Should Marcus Rashford leave Man United? Here are dropped striker's options

Mark Ogden, Lead Writer at ESPN FC, December 16, 2024, 1:00 PM

What's next for Marcus Rashford? This question has been popping up more frequently regarding the Manchester United striker lately. After being left out of Ruben Amorim's team for the thrilling derby win against Manchester City on Sunday, the 27-year-old's prospects at the Premier League club are once again uncertain.

United's head coach Amorim tried to minimize the impact of his choice to leave Rashford and winger Alejandro Garnacho out of the squad. He remarked, "Next week, next game, it's a fresh start," emphasizing that "They will have the chance to earn their spot on the team if they can outperform the others in every aspect, both on and off the field."

The message is straightforward: if you want to be part of Amorim's team, you need to meet expectations both during games and outside of them. Although Garnacho's absence from the squad at the Etihad came as a surprise—marking the first time the 20-year-old was left out of a first-team match—Rashford's exclusion was just another chapter in his recent struggles.

The English striker faced several disciplinary problems while playing under former manager Erik ten Hag. Notably, he was benched for oversleeping before a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers in December 2022. Additionally, he was omitted from the squad for an FA Cup match against Newport County last season after he skipped training due to a night out in Belfast.

Amorim expressed his discontent regarding Rashford and midfielder Casemiro's trip to the United States during the recent international break. He remarked that if he had been in charge, the situation would have definitely been handled differently. Meanwhile, although Rashford's off-field behavior has drawn criticism, his on-field performances have led to him losing his spot on the England team and missing the chance to participate in Euro 2024, as well as relegating him to a minor role at United.

This season, Rashford has netted seven times across 24 matches in various competitions, a notable decline from his eight goals in 43 games last season. Although his level of play seems to be diminishing, his recent four-and-a-half-year contract with United, which pays him £325,000 weekly, makes it financially challenging for any new club to sign him. While he does have potential opportunities, some may not be as attractive as others.

Staying at Old Trafford and focusing on getting back to his top form appears to be the most beneficial choice for both Rashford and Manchester United. Amorim has indicated that he would allow Rashford the opportunity to compete for a spot in the starting lineup. However, it’s evident that Amorim's tolerance has limits, and Rashford is approaching a crucial moment where he needs to prove himself.

"You see, we've been working with Rash for quite a while, and it just hasn't been effective," Amorim remarked after the match against City. "Should we keep doing what we've been doing, or should we explore a different approach? It's really that straightforward."

If the sudden change in strategy doesn’t yield results, Rashford might be on his way out in January. This would be a tough situation for United, as they would have to part with a player earning a substantial salary, especially considering his market value has significantly dropped. That’s why it’s crucial for Rashford to regain his top form. He possesses speed, the ability to score, and has demonstrated in the past that he can deliver crucial goals during important matches. Amorim would definitely benefit from having a player of his caliber on the team.

The decision now lies with Rashford. Manchester United could gain from selling him since they would profit from the transfer fee for a player developed in their academy, and that money could be reinvested in the team. However, at the end of the day, having a Rashford who is performing well would be more advantageous for United than letting him go.

Amorim discusses the exclusion of Garnacho and Rashford: Emphasis on performance is key.

Ruben Amorim discusses the reasons behind Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford not being included in the Manchester United lineup for the match against Manchester City.

Join A Rival In The Premier League

While the Premier League is known as the wealthiest league globally, the new Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) require every team to carefully think about the financial aspects of any transfer. Coupled with fierce rivalries between clubs, this situation leaves Rashford with little chance of finding a way out within the country.

At 27, he doesn't fit Chelsea's strategy of acquiring players younger than 24 and is also too costly in terms of transfer fee and salary for Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal could use more scoring power, but it's improbable that Rashford would displace Bukayo Saka or Gabriel Martinelli from the lineup. Additionally, Arsenal has already made one unsuccessful attempt this season by bringing in Raheem Sterling, an experienced forward. As for Liverpool and Manchester City, they're not options mainly due to their competitive rivalry, but also because neither club would be interested in a player who is currently struggling at United.

Outside of the leading clubs, Newcastle United and Aston Villa would face challenges in trying to secure a transfer for Rashford because of financial regulations, and no other team in the Premier League has enough money to pull it off.

If Rashford's tenure at Manchester United is coming to an end, the smartest financial move for both him and the club might be to make a move to Saudi Arabia. In that league, teams can bring in as many as eight international players who were born before 2003 in a squad of 30.

All the top teams, such as Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr and Neymar's Al Hilal, currently have the maximum allowed number of non-Saudi players as they approach the January transfer window. However, if Rashford were to be available, his prominence as a key player could lead a leading Saudi club to create a spot for him in their squad. Rashford could anticipate earning more than his current salary at Manchester United in the Saudi Pro League, and United would have the opportunity to sell him for a fair price while also reducing their wage expenses by nearly £17 million. Therefore, it’s clear why such a transfer might be attractive.

From a sports viewpoint, would Rashford think about transferring to Saudi Arabia, knowing it would likely dash his chances of rejoining the England team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup? This is the obstacle that needs to be addressed for Saudi Arabia to become a viable option for Rashford. However, given that his international career is currently on hold, the financial incentives offered by Saudi Arabia may seem more appealing than they did a year ago.

Another potentially profitable choice outside of Saudi Arabia is Turkey. However, although the leading Turkish clubs like Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Besiktas are known for offering high salaries, they aren’t known for making substantial transfer payments. For instance, Galatasaray recently secured Victor Osimhen on loan from Napoli in September, which leaves the door open for a loan arrangement. Still, it's not very likely.

PSG considered the possibility of signing Rashford two summers ago, but their interest did not lead to a formal offer for the player. According to sources at United, PSG's interest played a role in the decision to award Rashford a new contract in 2023. However, there have been no indications of any renewed attempts by PSG to bring him to Parc des Princes.

After securing high-profile players like Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi, PSG has shifted its strategy away from signing established superstars. The club is now concentrating on bringing in the most promising young talents from France and other regions. At 27, Rashford seems to be past his peak, making him less appealing for PSG's current approach.

However, as the club finds it difficult to advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League—despite holding a seven-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 and remaining undefeated in domestic competition—PSG might view Rashford as a potential asset to bring experience to a crucial role. Nevertheless, this is probably an unrealistic expectation for the Manchester United player.

According to sources speaking to ESPN, if Manchester United is open to receiving offers for Rashford in January, the Bundesliga could be a possible destination. This would be particularly true if they are willing to explore a loan arrangement, similar to the one that rejuvenated Jadon Sancho’s career at Borussia Dortmund last season.

Sancho had been sidelined by Ten Hag, and his circumstances were significantly worse than Rashford's, as he hadn't played for the first team for nearly six months. While at Dortmund, Sancho rediscovered his top performance and played a key role in the team reaching the Champions League final, which led to his transfer to Chelsea in the summer.

No team in the Bundesliga, not even Bayern Munich, has the financial resources to cover a transfer fee and handle Rashford's salary. However, Sancho pointed out the advantages of a loan arrangement, suggesting that both Bayern and Dortmund might successfully negotiate such a deal.

Bayern and United might engage in a win-win arrangement concerning players from the German club whose contracts are expiring. Next month, Joshua Kimmich, Leroy Sané, and Alphonso Davies will each have just six months left on their contracts at the Allianz Arena. If United thinks that any of these players could enhance Amorim's squad, then the two clubs could negotiate agreements that benefit both parties.

Relocating to Germany could provide Rashford with an opportunity to reignite his career, similar to what Sancho experienced. Additionally, it could benefit Manchester United, either by increasing Rashford's market value or paving the way for a potential player swap deal.

Rashford has a strong interest in American sports; during the recent international break, he controversially attended a New York Knicks game. He has also traveled to the U.S. in the past to focus on his fitness. According to sources, a future transfer to Major League Soccer (MLS) is something that greatly intrigues him.

Nonetheless, there are several challenges that make it unlikely for Rashford to make a move across the Atlantic in the near future. To begin with, Manchester United would require a hefty transfer fee for a player who is under contract until June 2028, which presents a significant hurdle for any MLS club. Additionally, since Rashford is among the top earners in the Premier League, he would need an offer that matches only Lionel Messi's salary at Inter Miami to persuade him to relocate to the U.S. at the age of 27.

Even if a transfer for Rashford to MLS seemed possible, only Inter Miami and maybe the two Los Angeles clubs, LAFC and LA Galaxy, would even think about it. For now, MLS isn't a viable choice.

According to information provided to ESPN, both United and Rashford aren't likely to receive any interest from clubs in Spain's LaLiga or Italy's Serie A due to the financial pressures faced by the top teams in those leagues.

At this point, the only club that might be able to finance a transfer for Rashford is Real Madrid, but they show no interest. This is not just due to his recent underwhelming performances; it's also because Carlo Ancelotti’s team is already filled with top-notch attacking players. Barcelona lacks both the funds and the desire to go after Rashford, and while Atletico Madrid might think about a loan or a reduced price, it's hard to see Rashford fitting the profile needed to thrive under Diego Simeone's management.

The situation is similarly grim in Italy, where the government ended tax incentives for high-earning footballers earlier this year. Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter Milan used to lure in star players with lucrative salaries thanks to these tax breaks, but that is no longer the case. Napoli and Roma have previously landed top talent with substantial contracts, but they too are now adjusting their strategies. Consequently, it seems that Rashford's options in Italy, much like in Spain, are limited.

Rashford is facing two possible paths: he can either bide his time and work hard to regain his form and earn a spot back in the team at United, or he can choose to transfer to a club in Saudi Arabia.

At the moment, neither option is particularly enticing for the player. Staying with United would mean starting fresh both on and off the field, while moving to Saudi Arabia would essentially pause his career at the highest level.

Germany could potentially be the ideal destination for Rashford, and possibly for United as well. However, unless Bayern or Dortmund express interest—something that hasn’t happened yet—it seems like his choices will boil down to either staying at United or moving to Saudi Arabia. If he doesn't win over Amorim in the near future, his options might shrink even further.