Marcus Rashford could return to Manchester United, but the truth is that the squad has been built without him.
After loans at Aston Villa and Barcelona, Marcus Rashford is currently on track to play for Manchester United next season.
Barcelona preferred to sign Anthony Gordon this summer, suggesting Rashford was only ever a stop-gap player for them in the first place.
Without a clear exit destination, Rashford is in line to continue his career at Old Trafford. But he cannot expect to walk straight back into the side.
After watching Marcus Rashford at the World Cup, do you want to see him back at Man Utd?
Marcus Rashford ended his World Cup campaign with a strong display against France…
United have alternatives, Rashford return is a luxury
A fully fit and firing Marcus Rashford could be a great option for Manchester United to have. But he is no longer a player who United need.
With Rashford spending the past 18 months of his career out on loan, different options have emerged and United have moved forward.
Michael Carrick has re-deployed the 4-2-3-1 formation where Rashford enjoyed success previously at United, but he has been using other options.
Matheus Cunha was utilised successfully on the left last season under Carrick, while Patrick Dorgu was also effective there when fit.
If Rashford was sold, United could pursue another winger at the position. But this is not a situation where United are impacted too much either way.
Rashford: Not an automatic starter
Marcus Rashford might look at Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu and believe that he has an edge on both players in the final third. He did score 30 goals in a single season in 2022/23. But does he possess the work rate required? Is he the right fit with the rest of the team? He has not come close to matching those numbers since.
It is hard to see Cunha or Dorgu being benched for a long substantial stretch, and Rashford will have to share the minutes out.
Rashford had to battle for minutes at Barcelona last season too. He was frequently left on the bench, and the same fate befell him for England at the World Cup.
When deciding his next move, Rashford should be targeting a club where he can start every single week. And that’s not Manchester United.
United could once guarantee Rashford a starting spot. But this is no longer the case.
He does not even have a squad number, with his 10 shirt now assigned to Matheus Cunha.
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Tynan Thompson deal shows United are planning forward
Marcus Rashford is under contract at Manchester United until 2028, and he could still decide to see out the deal.
But there is little chance of United offering Rashford an extension beyond 2028, due to his high salary, where he is now the club’s highest-paid player.
United are now putting plans in place beyond Rashford, with the addition of new signing Tynan Thompson.
Thompson, 18, is a £4 million gamble from United, backing his raw talent and their ability to coach him up. There is hope that he can make an Ayden Heaven-like impact.
United also have bright young winger Noah Ajayi, 17, who made a major impact for the under-18s last season. He is probably a year away from making a push for the first team.
The club is stocked at Rashford’s position now, and in the future. United moved on from Rashford the moment he left, and there is no easy way for him to reverse that – other than working hard and accepting that he will have to share his game time.
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