Will Manchester United sell Marcus Rashford? Why finding a buyer for the 27-year-old will be a challenge

He’s an elite earner who was once an elite player, a big name in his late 20s who, at his best, proved himself to be a game-changing talent. He is an emblematic player of one of the biggest clubs in the world, but who more and more frequently arouses the anger of his coaches. If this had happened two years ago, Manchester United would have been all over Marcus Rashford. Another 27 year old and we’re back.

The only problem is that the team is trying to shake its reputation for stupid money and is now trying to replace one of its highest paid players. According to sources with knowledge of the situation, United are open to offers as early as January for Rashford. The 27-year-old has struggled to find form since signing a contract worth well over $400,000 per week and has only nine top-flight goals and three assists since the start of the 2023-24 season.

With Rashford not out of contract until 2028, United will have to pay more than $75 million. There are compelling arguments that this is the worst contract in the Premier League.

United would not expect the sort of sum they could have got for Rashford at his peak, given the transfer fee they received would be recorded as pure profit under profit and sustainability regulations ( PSR). There are compelling arguments for cutting ties. with a player who joined the club at the age of seven. In the years since, there have been many impressive moments and standout seasons, with perhaps the best being the 30 goals he scored in all competitions in 2022-23, propelling United into the top three and to an EFL Cup triumph.

However, in the years since, this campaign has become horribly anomalous for a striker who simply does not achieve a goal tally commensurate with a top-10 salary in the Premier League. The youngster who seemed destined to become a superstar under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was one of many players to lose his way at Old Trafford.

Rashford’s woes

Premier League, per 90 minutes

Form of play isn’t the only problem Rashford has faced. Disciplinary issues arose on several occasions, from Erik ten Hag ditching him after a night out in Belfast, to Ruben Amorim’s more vague explanations for Alejandro’s absence. Garnacho and his number 10 during Sunday’s 2-1 match. defeat Manchester City. “Performance in training is important,” said the head coach, “performance in matches, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you interact with your teammates, the way you how you push your teammates.” Both are in contention to face Tottenham in the EFL Cup on Thursday, but clearly they haven’t made the best first impression on their new boss.

So here is a 27-year-old player whose off-field behavior has been scrutinized at the same time as his form has settled at a level too low for his salary.

Can United find a new home for Rashford?

Any takers? The Premier League has enough clubs to match his salary, but United’s arch-rivals Manchester City and Liverpool are not starters for obvious reasons. Tottenham doesn’t have a player making more than $300,000 per week, let alone $400,000. The closest to Rashford’s salary is Heung-Min Son, who plays the same position on the pitch but better and cheaper. Chelsea have made 22 permanent transfers in the last two summer windows, none as old as 27. Arsenal? There is a case to be made that they need to improve their offense. There’s not much Rashford would do that.

After that, you’ll end up with teams who would almost certainly have to ask Rashford to take a pay cut to play at a level he might not consider suitable for him. It’s difficult to see him, for example, in a West Ham jersey.

On the continent, there is already a shortage of left forwards at Real Madrid and precious little money at Barcelona or any Serie A club. That makes for slim pickings. Bayern Munich, with Harry Kane headlining, have proven they are not averse to paying big money for veteran English talent, but would Vincent Kompany favor Rashford in a position where he already uses Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane and Mathys Tel? Paris Saint-Germain have always been the club most frequently linked with Rashford’s services, and for a long time, snagging Manchester United’s brightest star almost made sense for them. This doesn’t seem to be the case when they recruit the best young talent from the French capital and beyond.

We then utter this refrain that has become so familiar on the transfer market since the summer of 2023: what about the Pro League in Saudi Arabia? A wise man tends not to try to predict too far in advance what might happen to Saudi football, especially now that the sport’s eyes are on the host of the 2036 World Cup.

There is always an appetite for stars in the PIF sovereign wealth fund clubs. Likewise, there are currently no spots available in the Pro League for international players over the age of 21, and it’s worth noting that players like Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are already investing extremely well in youngsters like Angelo Gabriel and Marcos Leonardo. -Brazilians considered capable of growing with the league. Their long-term priorities could change when the owners ask for their list of targets for the summer of 2025, but it’s hard to imagine anyone putting Rashford at the top of their list.

Similarly, in MLS, many contingent factors would need to be considered in the right way for a decision to make sense. Is there a club that can afford Manchester United’s wages and transfer fees while still offering Rashford a compelling lifestyle proposition? Look, I’m not the CBS guy in MLS. I he asked her. In return, he asked if Marcus Rashford would like Kansas City in August.

Of course, it only takes one club to complete a deal for Rashford, a lone taker confident his manager can unlock the 2022-23 player on a regular basis. This should come as a relief for United. Finding many more suitors for this player on this contract would be an almighty struggle.