Marcus Rashford still has two years left on his £325,000-a-week Manchester United contract and it has made finding a permanent transfer close to impossible this summer
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford's status at Manchester United has changed significantly in the past few years(Image: Getty Images)
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Three years ago, Marcus Rashford was on top of the world. The Manchester United academy graduate was signing a bumper new five-year contract with his boyhood club on the back of the best season of his career.
Rashford returned 30 goals and 12 assists in 56 appearances in the 2022-23 campaign, becoming the first player to breach the 30-goal mark for United since Robin van Persie in 2012-13 season. His reward was a gigantic pay rise, from £200,000-a-week to £325,000-a-week.
He was 25 years old and, as John Murtough said in the announcement, in the prime of his career.
"As he enters his prime years, we know there is still so much more to come from him, and we can see the hunger that Marcus feels to achieve the highest levels of success here at Manchester United," United's then football director said.
“Working with Erik ten Hag and his coaches is the perfect environment for Marcus to continue to develop into one of the best attacking players in the world.”
"I couldn’t be more excited for the future under this manager," Rashford said of Ten Hag, who himself had just signed a one-year contract extension with United, yet would only last a further three months in the role.
United were delighted with the situation at the time. And while Rashford's form hasn't dropped off a cliff - he got 14 goals and 14 assists last season after all - that contract has caused all kinds of problems, becoming a weight the forward has had to drag around.
Marcus Rashford ahead of England vs France
Marcus Rashford is likely to stay with Manchester United this summer due to his gigantic wages(Image: Jose Breton/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
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Rashford still has two years left on his £325,000-a-week deal at United, but neither he nor the club want him to fulfil it. United are desperate to offload the England international and the feeling is mutual.
A permanent move to Barcelona, where he flourished on loan in 2025-26, has not materialised, with the Catalan giants going for Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi instead of paying £26m for his services. And now, after the conclusion of the World Cup, Rashford is stuck.
United want him off their wage bill, yet despite many interested parties, there is no deal that suits them. Barcelona wanted another loan, while United are unwilling to sell to a Premier League rival.
Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag with Football Director John Murtough
Erik ten Hag and John Murtough were the men behind Marcus Rashford's bumper deal(Image: PA)
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Rashford rejected approaches from Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, leaving no realistic exit routes left. A report from La Gazzetta dello Sport sums up the issue. United are in talks with Roma over the signing of France midfielder Manu Kone, who is valued at €60million (£51m) by his club.
Michael Carrick's side don't want to pay that much for the World Cup star and, it is noted, could offer Rashford as part of a deal. Yet his sky-high wages would make him, by some distance, the highest-paid player in Serie A and therefore is way out of Roma's league.
Under Sir Jim Ratcliffe's ownership, United have made a point of cost-cutting across every department, even if it brings negative headlines. The club's top brass must be cursing former manager Ten Hag, ex-executive Murtough and the other old decision-makers.
Rashford is still away on holiday at present, having been given a three-week break after the conclusion of England's World Cup campaign. But through no fault of his own, his colossal wages mean he is set to return to United - a club that don't want him - against his own wishes.
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