Manchester United are reportedly willing to cash in on Marcus Rashford amid fears that he's lost his focus on football. The Telegraph reports that the English forward is available for sale heading into the January transfer window.
The Red Devils were open to accepting bids for Rashford last summer. The club are worried that he is going through some off-field distractions that have affected his performance on the pitch, which has been evident for about two years now.
Rashford has been highly inconsistent since the 22/23 season when Erik ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford. The England International had a 40-goal contribution in that campaign, helping United finish third and win the Carabao Cup.
However, Rashford has only contributed 21 goals in about two years after that stellar individual season to date, though, which is far below the standard he set. United are increasingly concerned about his lifestyle off the pitch, with a recent incident saw him fined two weeks’ wages in January after he was caught drunk on a night out in Belfast.
Manchester United Consider Selling Marcus Rashford
Rashford's disciplinary issues aren't anything new as former Manchester United manager Ten Hag also once left him out of the starting lineup against Wolves on boxing day in 2022 for “internal disciplinary” reasons. The player is said to desire to continue at Old Trafford and regain the faith of his fans and coach. He still has a chance to turn around how things have been under new head coach Ruben Amorim.
The United academy graduate has scored three goals in five games under Amorim's tutelage and hopes to be one of the team's protagonists again. Still, time is running out for one of the club's longest-serving players as fans are growing impatient with the 27-year-old’s inconsistent performances and questionable demeanour.
I appreciate your support! It is abuse and has been for months. Enough is enough https://t.co/MUfiU0JwEb
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) April 25, 2024
Considering Manchester United have been receptive to offers for the winger shows how far he’s fallen in recent years. He signed a contract extension in 2023, which made him one of the Premier League’s highest earners.
The Red Devils' new project would likely benefit both sides if Rashford moves on, and the club can replace him with a forward who would provide them with elite goal-scoring potential and allay their goal-scoring concerns that have been pivotal in denting their footballing progress on the pitch. Viktor Gyokeres, who thrived under Amorim at Sporting CP, fits the bill.
Rashford's mind appears to be diverted away from football at the moment. He has not only been disappointing at the club level but also missed out on a place in England's Euro 2024 squad, considering that he missed his first major international tournament. Next year might conclude this saga once and for all and decide the forward’s fate.