One of the biggest positives for Manchester United on Sunday against Everton was the performance of Marcus Rashford, who impressed on the left wing
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford (Image: (Alex Livesey/Getty Images))
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Jaap Stam has questioned how long Marcus Rashford can maintain his impressive form and told the Manchester United hierarchy they should have signed Bradley Barcola. Rashford remained at Old Trafford this summer after Barcelona opted against signing him for £26million (€30million).
The United hierarchy, though, was keen to offload Rashford's £325,000-a-week wages, as that salary no longer fits within the wage structure at Old Trafford. But after coming off the bench against Hull City on the opening weekend of the season, Rashford has started his side’s last two games. The England international’s most impressive display came against Everton on Sunday, but Stam, while discussing United’s transfer business, questioned whether Rashford can keep up his impressive form.
“It looks as if Manchester United are dealing with transfer windows in stages,” he told Betfred.
"We had the attack last summer, midfield this summer and defence possibly next summer, but I believe you always have to look at the areas that need strengthening at the time.
“I don’t think they needed a striker this summer because I believe in (Benjamin) Sesko and I think [Joshua] Zirkzee can still do well for United.
"I would have liked to have seen a new winger signed this summer because I think they’re crucial for the style of play that United have.
“Marcus Rashford has stepped in and done really well, but can he keep that up? Bryan Mbeumo sometimes plays on the right, sometimes he plays down the middle, so I would have brought in a winger with a lot of pace that can create something.
Marcus Rashford before Manchester United's draw with Everton
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“Defensively, the players in that area have played together for years and years, so I think they needed to add something new and I would have done that straight away if the opportunity was there.”
And one player Stam, who won the Treble with the Reds back in 1999, would have liked the United hierarchy to move for Barcola this summer.
A protracted transfer saga with Paris Saint-Germain finally ended last week when Barcola arrived at Anfield for an initial £106m, with a further £17m part of the package in add-ons.
“Liverpool got Bradley Barcola from PSG and like I’ve said previously, I would have liked Man United to have signed a winger during the summer transfer window,” Stam said.
“He’s the type of player we could have done with because he’s got tremendous pace and he’s unpredictable in the way he plays."