Marcus Rashford has been open to it all along, but very few actually believed the Manchester United outcast would ever wear the shirt of his boyhood club again. Until now.
The i Paper has been told that Ineos are now focusing on bringing in at least two more midfielders this summer, which means they may not bring in another left-winger as originally planned.
Manuel Ugarte’s serious injury, suffered at the World Cup, has left Kobbie Mainoo and the incoming Ederson as the only two senior midfielders in the squad. Ugarte had been considered one of the players up for sale as part of a fundraising effort to strengthen other areas of the team.
To fill that gap, Rashford could be brought back into the camp. He is a forward reborn in Barcelona after his successful loan spell, with his impressive form continuing at the World Cup.
What next for Rashford?
Rashford is expected to return for pre-season training at Carrington after the World Cup, with sources close to the 28-year-old insisting he is open to starting again at United, where he has not fulfilled all his ambitions. Despite interest from Tottenham, Rashford does not want to play for another Premier League club.
United’s stance is where the issues present themselves. The club are aware Rashford will be returning later this month, but Ineos have made it very clear that they do not want to pay his £325,000-a-week wages.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has identified the wage bill as a priority to trim. Two of the club’s other top earners, Jadon Sancho and Casemiro, have both gone last month.
Ideally, United would have sold Rashford and used the funds to invest in the squad – but their well-known reluctance to pay his wages doesn’t put them in a position of strength in the market, according to insiders.
With two years left on his deal, clubs are put off spending on a 28-year-old on such an expensive contract. It is understood that negotiating a lower wage structure will be difficult. Such deals don’t tend to happen too often.
United’s desperation to move him on will encourage big European sides to enquire about a loan. Barcelona and Bayern Munich are poised. Andre Onana has already been sent back out on loan to save on the wage bill.
Why are United having such a quiet window?
Another player whose wage demands put United off was Mateus Fernandes. Tottenham have agreed an £85m fee for the Portuguese midfielder – a bid United were simply not willing to match.
It is understood that Fernandes, in a deal brokered by super-agent Jorge Mendes, will earn around £250,000-a-week – 50,000 more than the next top earner at Spurs. United were not willing to offer anything like the same salary.
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While there are still two months left of the summer transfer window, there is no panic around Old Trafford. Their transfer targets are dwindling in number by the week.
Adam Scott from Bournemouth is a top target, but he also could command a fee United are not looking to spend on one young player. Bournemouth are understood to be keen to tie him down to a new contract, one that is set to include a release clause.
Sandro Tonali is another top midfield option, but Manchester City are expected to make a big play for the Italian in the coming weeks. He is someone they see as the perfect partner for Elliot Anderson in the heart of their midfield.
from Football - The i Paper https://ift.tt/H7nbRQV
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