Marcus Rashford playing for Manchester United and Everton fans at Goodison Park
Marcus Rashford playing for Manchester United and Everton fans at Goodison Park
There is a desperate need from David Moyes to add to his squad in January.
The Scot has made little secret of his desire to deepen his squad after a failure to properly do so in the summer.
That has prompted plenty of early links ahead of the winter.
The England international has emerged as a shock option for the Toffees as the window approaches.
Many may question these links, but Rashford already has an existing relationship with the Everton fans.
Why do Everton fans already love Marcus Rashford?
It feels like a long time since the days of lockdown football.
No fans in the stadium made for strange occasions, made all the more painful for the Goodison faithful knowing they missed out on James Rodriguez football under Carlo Ancelotti.
While the Premier League acted as an escape for many, it was merely a background activity for Rashford.
His main work throughout 2020 focused on convincing the government to change their decision on free school meals.
He helped seal new commitments that totalled into hundreds of millions of pounds to help underprivileged children up and down the country.
The 29-year-old's reputation changed forever, but Everton wanted to make their feelings clear.
In a November 2020 meeting with Manchester United at Goodison Park, the pitchside screens showed a message to Rashford from The Everton Fans' Forum.
It read, "Thank you for sticking up for our kids who needed a voice, here on Merseyside and across the country."
Rashford responded to that on social media: "I don’t even really know what to say other than thank you.
"I’ve stood in awe of Merseyside and how you have worked to tackle this issue head on, and the contributions that you make to the foodbanks to protect the most vulnerable.
"You should all be very proud of yourselves."
That could serve as the perfect introduction to the Toffees as a move to Merseyside could be in the pipeline this winter.
How could Everton seal deal for Rashford?
There is no hiding from how high-profile a deal would be for the Englishman.
He hasn't done well at Old Trafford this campaign, but certainly has quality that could change the Blues for the better.
That doesn't take away from the surprise behind links to Merseyside.
FootballTransfers reported interest as Rashford looks set to depart Man United at some point in 2027.
Everton have already held talks over a potential January deal, but those conversations remain at an early stage.
The bigger question will be about how Moyes' side can even get a deal done.
The above report suggests the structure of a deal will depend on finances, but it remains unclear whether a loan or permanent transfer would be preferred.
Either way, it seems as if the Goodison faithful could have helped a deal start on the right foot.