Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim suggested he would be happy to keep Marcus Rashford despite the forward's desire for a "new challenge" away from the club.
During an interview with the journalist Henry Winter on Tuesday, Rashford was asked if he would be "staying or going"' and replied: "For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps."
Following the comments, speculation has been rife about where the striker could move to if he does leave Old Trafford, with Arsenal among the potential destinations following previous links with the Gunners.
Amorim has not spoken to Rashford since he conducted the interview and he will decide on Wednesday whether to restore the 27-year-old to the United squad for their Carabao Cup quarter-final with Tottenham. Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were omitted from the matchday squad against City on Sunday.
Even though Rashford indicated his wish to end his 20-year association with United, Amorim instead referred to the "new challenge" of making the club a credible force again.
"I think it's right," Amorim said when asked about Rashford's reference to a new challenge. "We have here a new challenge. It's a tough one, for me it's the biggest challenge in football because we are in a difficult situation and I already said this is one of the biggest clubs in the world."
"This is a really new challenge and the biggest one. I really hope all my players are ready for this new challenge."
"No, [I haven't spoken to Rashford] yet. It was yesterday, I gave the day off to the lads, so he's our player and he's ready for the next game."
"I spoke with a lot of players individually and during training. What I want is to take the best stuff of Marcus Rashford as the player so I don't talk about the future, I just talk about the present."
"I want the best of each one of them and that is the key point for me. I just want to win and to help the team be better. We are better with Marcus Rashford, that is simple and we will try different things to push Marcus to the best levels he showed in the past. And that's all."
"Of course (I would be happy to keep him), because this kind of club needs big talent and he's a big talent. So he just needs to perform at the highest level and that is my focus. I just want to help Marcus."
Amorim clarified he will decide after United's training session on Wednesday whether to include Rashford and Garnacho in the squad against Spurs. The Portuguese expects a reaction from the pair after they were forced to train at Carrington on the morning of United's 2-1 victory at City.
"We have one more training, but it's the same situation of all the other players. If they train well then I have to make a choice. We will see at the end of training."
"Of course (I expect a reaction). I expect the best of each player every day so we will see after training."
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