Manchester United open to selling Marcus Rashford next summer

Marcus Rashford is battling to salvage his career at Manchester United as the club are open to selling him next summer, according to Telegraph Sport.

United are reportedly concerned about Rashford’s lifestyle off the pitch, with fears that he is no longer as focused on his football as he should be as his off-field distractions are impacting his performances.

In January, Rashford was fined two weeks’ wages after being photographed drinking heavily during a night out in Belfast.

He was also dropped for United’s FA Cup win over Newport County after calling in sick the day before the match.

Under former manager Erik ten Hag, Rashford was left out of the starting lineup for the Boxing Day win at Wolves in 2022 due to “internal disciplinary” reasons, though he came off the bench to score the winning goal.

Rashford still has an opportunity to turn things around under new manager Ruben Amorim, having scored three goals in five appearances under him.

However, time is running out, and United need to see evidence of his hunger and commitment.

The fact that United explored the possibility of selling the 27-year-old before the start of the season highlights how far his stock has fallen.

This is particularly striking considering Rashford signed a new contract in July 2023, making him one of the club’s top earners alongside Casemiro.

Rashford was also excluded from the England squad for Euro 2024, with his last appearance for the national team coming in March.

Given his £325,000-a-week salary and his lack of consistent form, the likelihood of United finding a buyer in January seems remote.

A summer sale, however, appears more probable, with his contract running until 2028.

Very few clubs can afford his current wages, but a move to Saudi Arabia or a potential switch to Paris Saint-Germain in France have been suggested.

Even a sale for a relatively modest fee would be financially beneficial for United, as they would make a pure profit under Profitability and Sustainability Regulations (PSR), given that Rashford is a homegrown player.

This situation makes him even more vulnerable to a potential exit.

Amorim will reportedly operate on a more modest budget than Ten Hag at Manchester United.

He will be tasked with unlocking the untapped potential within the squad as the club aims to break the cycle of costly and disruptive overhauls.

The club’s new hierarchy, which underwent a shake-up this week following the sudden departure of Dan Ashworth, has no plans under Amorim to dismantle the current squad.

They believe the squad is capable of achieving more and are determined to move away from a culture of constant upheaval, which they view as financially unsustainable and detrimental to long-term squad building.

Read more: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits break from football would “do me good”

Liverpool to make Virgil van Dijk announcement before the end of the year

Liverpool want Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold to stay