Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag now wants contract talks with Marcus Rashford after the World Cup.
Rashford’s return to form has continued in Qatar, where he has three goals for England and is joint-top of the Golden Boot standings despite only starting one game.
That will only make United even more keen to keep Rashford, who can speak to foreign clubs in January over a move as it stands.
The Athletic report that United want Rashford’s future sorted after the World Cup, with Ten Hag personally planning to speak to players with expiring contracts after the tournament ends.
Ten Hag wants Rashford talks
They report that talks with Rashford are at the top of Ten Hag’s agenda for when United’s players return to the fold and action after the World Cup.
The report says that United need to decide whether they can agree a new contract between now and when the January window opens.
If not, they will look to amicably activate the 12-month option in his current deal first, then negotiate after that with less time pressure.
That might be a more sensible solution, but the bedrock to it all is Rashford feeling more confident and valued at United under the new manager.
It remains to be seen whether Rashford starts for England against Senegal tomorrow, with Gareth Southgate having a host of wide options.
Rashford is the most dangerous and in-form of all of them, but his pace may also be more useful as a substitute once the game has opened up.
The good news for United fans is that Rashford has continued to shine at a tournament where other Red Devils – including Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes – have done well too.
That is a signal of the improvement made under Ten Hag and it seems more likely than ever that Rashford would want to commit his future.
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