Manchester United transfer news as Marcus Rashford under increased scrutiny following Ruben Amorim's derby squad decision with a full exit roundup
Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford could leave Manchester United next year(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Marcus Rashford's Manchester United career remains at a crossroads and Ruben Amorim has done nothing to change that. His decision to leave the forward out of Sunday's Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium threatened to become the main story on a day of rivalry.
Amad's late winner and the dramatic comeback in general ensured that the absence of Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the matchday squad was put to the side. Rashford's future is still up in the air, though.
Explaining that this was not a disciplinary action, Amorim stated that his ruthless actions were instead about raising standards within the group. Instead of playing in one of the two biggest games of the season, a fixture in which Rashford has a long history and connection as an academy graduate, the 27-year-old was made to train in the morning.
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He watched from home as United landed another sucker-punch to Pep Guardiola. Amad, given the chance to operate further forward without Garnacho or Rashford's presence, took his chance.
Whether related or not - Amorim insists not - the timing of this call, which was reported by the Manchester Evening News prior to team news being released at 3:15pm on Sunday, comes shortly after suggestions that Rashford will be allowed to leave next year. If a suitable offer emerges in January, just two weeks away now, it is claimed United would consider it.
Here is the latest on his future.
Contract position
Rashford signed a bumper new long-term deal at United in July 2023 after scoring 30 goals the season before. He has managed just 15 in the 18 months since and still had three-and-a-half years left on his deal.
He is one of the top earners at the club and is nowhere near as valuable as at either of his two previous peaks, where talk of between £60million and £80million had been rife. United are thought to be open to letting Rashford leave now, however, and will entertain bids for their long-serving attacker.
Price demand
United have set their price for Rashford at just £40million, the Daily Mail wrote last week. The club are not described as anticipating teams to come forward mid-season due to financial constraints, but that is one of the reasons United themselves would be happy to see him leave as they fight profitability and sustainability rules (PSRs).
The Mail added that another option would be for Garnacho or Kobbie Mainoo to be sold. That is not part of the plans, though, with a Rashford exit being preferred.
Paris Saint-Germain have also been pitted as one of the few viable options for Rashford. Saudi Arabia is another potential destination due to the wealth available for many clubs. The French giants, in particular, have been in the mix for Rashford previously.
Ahead of the 2022 World Cup, president Nasser Al-Khelaifi spoke about Rashford with his contract set to expire at the time. “He’s another player that is really amazing - and for free?" he said. "To have Rashford for free, every club would definitely run after him. We’re not hiding it, we spoke before and there was interest.
"But the moment was not a good moment for both sides. Maybe summer, why not? Today, if he’s a free agent, of course we can talk to him directly but we are not going to talk to him now. Let him focus on the World Cup. Then after, in January, hopefully, if we’re interested we will talk to him.”
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Arsenal interest
Charles Watts says that it is unlikely that Arsenal make a move for Rashford despite being linked with him for several years. However, he adds that Mikel Arteta's side are in the market for another versatile forward and would sanction another loan to get themselves through to the summer.
Fabrizio Romano adds: “For Marcus Rashford, it’s not the first time that we’ve seen this kind of situation. So basically, what’s going on is that Manchester United will talk to the player and let’s see what kind of situation there will be around Marcus Rashford.
“In recent weeks we’ve had many links with an exit of Marcus Rashford, but what we have to say today is Man United have not entertained any negotiations so they didn’t receive any concrete bid for Marcus Rashford. January is in two weeks, so at the moment, still nothing concrete for the January transfer window.”
Exit fallout
Roy Keane, speaking shortly after the news that Rashford had been totally dropped from the squad on Sunday, believes the time for him to leave is now. "I think ultimately, I think there's been talk over the last few months, I feel probably a move for Marcus definitely would suit the player, a new challenge for him," the former midfielder said on Sky Sports.
"He's been at the club a long time, he's done well for the club but over the last year or two whatever about talent at a big club if your attitude is not quite right and his certainly hasn't been great recently, sometimes I think it is good to part ways." Gary Neville was less drawn on the immediate prospects of an exit but but still commented on the situation.
"I don't know about their long-term future but what is really clear is he [Amorim] mentioned engaging with teammates, standards, so he has given us clues, emphatic clues, as to what has happened in the last few days that they have been moping and not doing their bit around the training ground," he said after the match. "Not engaging with their teammates properly and the standards in training and he has thought, 'no, I am not having it and I am not accepting it'. And good on him.
"We have been sat here for years as ex-players saying give your absolute all when players are not running back, we have seen Rashford and Garnacho for years stand up on that left and right wing and not chase back when full backs have gone past them yet keep their place in the team. No more.
"I want Marcus Rashford and Garnacho to come back stronger, take the message of going to train at the training ground on a Sunday when no one else is there, I want them to take it in the right spirit and become the very best players for Manchester United."
David Beckham appeared to take a dig at the pair online as well. He wrote on Instagram: "And the rebuild begins. Big win. Big win with players who wanna wear this jersey [red heart emoji]".