Robin Bairner
Marcus Rashford, Man Utd, 2024/25
© IMAGO
For Marcus Rashford, there’s more on the line currently than simply his future at Manchester United. The attacker’s whole career could be on the line in the next few months.
Once considered a talent who might equal Kylian Mbappe at the pinnacle of the game, Rashford could be on his way out of Old Trafford amid concerns over both his form and his lifestyle. A return of seven goals in 23 matches this season is not what Man Utd expected of the 27-year-old and with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) potentially forcing a sale, the England forward is reportedly on the transfer market.
Eyebrows have been raised at the news that United are prepared to allow Rashford to leave for just €48.5 million (£40m), yet the reality is that this is where he is in his career at present.
FootballTransfers’ Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of the attacker is €54.1m, with his price likely driven down artificially by a wage packet of €395,000 (£325,000) per week. A huge sum for a player not performing as expected.
The main object to a sale, though, is that no one wants Rashford, even at his discounted price.
Out of options
Rashford’s next steps are not obvious. Rumours continue to link him with a transfer to PSG or Barcelona, yet neither of these options are realistic: he is not the type of vibrant young player that the Parisian side is chasing and, in any case, operates in the area of Bradley Barcola, while Barca can’t afford him and, even if they could, don’t need him.
So what are his other options?
Data analytics firm SciSports indicates that Man Utd is the best club for Rashford via its Career Advice tool – and by some distance.
United get a Club Fit score of 81 based upon a variety of factors ranging from pitch time and potential development to formation and style.
There is an alarming gulf to the next-best team for Rashford, which is West Ham with 72. A move to the Hammers, though, would essentially consign the forward to the level he is at: SciSports rates them at just one star for potential development.
Rashford is out of good options
© IMAGO - Rashford is out of good options
Aston Villa rate similarly, though with a score of 72.
Any club of Champions League stature, meanwhile, is unlikely to be attractive to Rashford due to a lack of playing time.
Possibilities might be found abroad. Juventus earn a Club Fit score of 72 and could offer him game time, while Bayer Leverkusen rate at 68, with the big weakness of Xabi Alonso’s side their playing style.
Rashford would clearly be best staying at Manchester United, but unless he finds his form and cleans up his attitude, that decision could be taken out of his hands.
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