Pundit Danny Murphy has picked out the ‘perfect next Premier League club’ for Marcus Rashford as Manchester United look to offload their academy product.

Rashford has suffered a huge fall from grace after scoring 30 goals across all competitions during the 2022/23 campaign.

The Man Utd forward has been heavily criticised for his poor performances over the past 18 months and could leave the Premier League giants in 2025.

A report on Tuesday evening revealed Man Utd are only ‘keen to keep’ three stars and Rashford is one player they are ‘open to selling’ next year.

In previous windows, Ligue Un giants Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with Rashford, but it remains to be seen whether they will move to sign him in January or next summer.

The 27-year-old has also been linked with English rivals and Murphy has explained why Arsenal would be his ‘perfect next Premier League club’.

“Playing in a team that’s so settled and so confident and competent, there is a case that his end product would get much better, because Arsenal are really dominant in games” Murphy said on talkSPORT.

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While indicating Arteta could “turn him around”, Murphy added: “There would be some people who would take Rashford over Martinelli.

“[Rashford] is still the best [Man Utd forward], on his day, He’s the most dangerous one.

“If I looked at all their front players and thought ‘Who can win me a game? Who can score a goal? Who’s going to hurt people?’ I’d have him ahead of [Alejandro] Garnacho, [Rasmus] Hojlund and Antony this season.

“The biggest problem with Marcus is the perception. The aesthetics of him, he sometimes looks down on himself, slumped. But when you possess such pace, power and athleticism, I’m amazed that there hasn’t been videos with him saying ‘have a look at yourself’.

“The ability he’s got and physical attributes he has, he’s capable of more. But he’s been at a club where the managers and managerial team has not been stable, the team’s not been great.”

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Brazil international Antony is also facing an exit and former United assistant Rene Meulensteen reckons the winger’s “personality” is his “biggest” problem.

“Manchester United might have to bite the bullet and cut their losses with Antony in January, because I don’t think he has the attributes to contribute to what Ruben Amorim wants,” Meulensteen said.

“I find it difficult to see where he fits into this team. I think he’s been one of the biggest misfiring transfers in the Premier League in recent years.”

He added: “I think the biggest thing that has held Antony back is his own personality – he’s got certain characteristics that don’t sit very well with some of the other players.

“Away from that though, there’s a lack of effectiveness as a player – he’s very predictable in the way he wants to cut in on his left foot. We hardly see any quality assists or chance creation from him and I think we could see him elsewhere by the end of January.”

For all the talk of Manchester United having no assets to sell, they have two of the top five most valuable former Academy players on their books, which is very handy in terms of potential ‘pure profit’ sales.

And with United walking a PSR tightrope, that could be very useful indeed. Just as it was to Chelsea last summer when they sold Ian Maatsen, Conor Gallagher, Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson. And, judging by their position in the Premier League table, it’s not a bad path to follow.

These are the Premier League’s five most valuable Academy products according to transfermarkt; Man Utd have two on the list, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City also involved. Though Curtis Jones might want a word…

1) Phil Foden (Manchester City)
TM value: £124m

Having a frankly rotten season but he is the reigning PFA Player of the Year, is only 24, and has a long contract at Manchester City. “He is the only player that can’t be sold under any circumstances, the only one. Not even for €500m,” said Pep Guardiola. But that was five years ago and City would be lucky to get €100m for him now.

It’s actually incredibly tricky to imagine Foden at any other club, playing in any other colour. He has played under no other club manager but Pep Guardiola and his England attempts under Gareth Southgate and Lee Carsley suggest he might be a one-coach man. And this season even that one-coach trick is failing him badly. He has scored zero goals in the Premier League on the back of a 19-goal haul.

Will City sell? Will they balls.

2) Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
TM value: £115m

The third favourite for the PFA award this season, a market value update from TM would surely see him leapfrog the man above him on this list. In truth, Arsenal have let it be known that they would only sell for a fee in the life-changing £150-200m bracket, with reports suggesting that they believe only Erling Haaland is worth more in the Premier League. For once, that’s not bluster.

Ten years ago, you could imagine Arsenal being forced to sell their Starboy to Manchester City or Real Madrid, but we would not be remotely surprised if Saka begins and ends his career in north London.

Will Arsenal sell? Will they balls.

3) Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
TM value: £58m

A great deal has been said elsewhere – but particularly on these pages – about the lure of Real Madrid to Alexander-Arnold, who might not get another chance to join a genuine super-club and potentially become a Ballon d’Or winner.

The latest is that Manchester City are also interested, which would be a trickier pill to swallow for Liverpool fans who might just kind of maybe accept that Real Madrid is quite the pull.

If Alexander-Arnold does leave, it will be on a free transfer at the end of the season, though we would be amused to see Liverpool’s reaction to a £50m-plus offer in January for a pure profit player who is just months away from potentially leaving for bugger all.

Will Liverpool sell? They wish it was their decision to make…

4) Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
TM value: £50m

The idea that the only two options available to Rashford would be Saudi Arabia or PSG is ludicrous; there will be many coaches across the Premier League and Europe who believe that the biggest problem with Rashford is not the player himself but Manchester United. We have long suspected that Pep Guardiola would absolutely fancy a crack at unlocking the brilliance of the United Academy graduate.

Rashford has scored three goals in five games for new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, who is said to be under no illusions that he has no transfer kitty unless he sells. And the best man to sell is the ‘pure profit’ forward who scored 30 goals just two seasons ago.

Will Man Utd sell? Damned right they will.

5) Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
TM value: £45m

He’s said to be on a very short list of Manchester United players NOT available for sale along with Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, though there are schools of thought that Mainoo does not have the discipline to work in a two-man midfield pivot.

But the club will absolutely know that selling Mainoo would be disastrous for the club in terms of PR, even though there is little to suggest that he is a key part of Amorim’s long-term plans. Right now, the man above him on this list is the man who will be sold. Until such time Mainoo proves himself to be either a) very, very profitable or b) really not worth unsellable status.

According to reports, Ruben Amorim is showing ‘no mercy’ as he is ‘forcing’ three players to leave in 2025 and one has been ‘offered’ to FC Barcelona.

Amorim has endured a difficult start at Man Utd as his side have suffered back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.

The 39-year-old and INEOS are already prepared to wield the axe and make wholesale changes to Man Utd’s squad in the coming months as the Premier League giants have failed in the transfer department in recent windows.

The Red Devils are currently way off being able to compete for the Premier League title and there is likely to be a major overhaul overseen by Amorim next year as his side are currently 13th in the Premier League and eight points adrift of fourth-placed Man City before Sunday’s Manchester derby.

Unfortunately for Amorim, it’s been reported that he will have a ‘tight budget’ to work with in January and is unlikely to secure a big-money signing in the winter.

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It’s subsequently been reported that Man Utd need to sell unwanted players to raise funds for additions in January and next summer. Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg believes “over half” of the squad are “serious candidates” to be sold.

“Internally, Manchester United agree that over half of the players in the squad are serious candidates for sale in the winter or summer if good offers come in,” Plettenberg revealed.

“Ruben #Amorim is to be given the opportunity to make a rebuild, which will require urgent sales.

“Currently, players considered unsellable include Diallo, Mainoo, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Yoro, Onana, and 2-3 other key players.”

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A report in Spain claims Amorim ‘wants to release three players’ as they have been ‘put on the market’ and ‘sentenced’ to an exit.

It is noted that Amorim ‘will have no mercy on players he considers do not have the necessary level to help United and has already put together a list of candidates to pack their bags next June, or even in January’.

The three stars being ‘forced’ to ‘pack their bags’ are Antony, Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford.

Regarding Rashford, the report claims the out-of-form England forward can ‘say goodbye’ and has been ‘offered’ to Barcelona.

‘Rashford, who in the past was considered the team’s main figure and the benchmark of the project, can also say goodbye to the Red Devils.

‘He has not been able to maintain the impressive level he showed in the past, and has also been heavily criticised for his life away from the pitch.

‘Amorim does not count on him, and one of the teams to which he has been offered is Barça, who could consider his incorporation.

‘Deco values ​​the idea of ​​giving a chance to the attacker born in 1997, who became one of the best in Europe in his position, although the price they are asking to open the doors to him is still unknown.’

A new report has revealed the ‘primary’ reason why Arsenal are considering a move for former Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth.

The 53-year-old – who has previously had spells at Brighton and Newcastle United – joined Man Utd in the summer as co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe made it his priority to make him their sporting director.

Ashworth was placed on gardening leave after Man Utd made an approach for his services and the two Premier League clubs eventually reached an agreement on a compensation package, which was worth around £3m.

He joined chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox in joining Man Utd ahead of this season as Ratcliffe overhauled their recruitment team.

Man Utd went to a great effort to land Ashworth, so it was a shock when it was announced on Sunday morning that he has left the Premier League giants after just five months.

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Several reasons for Ashworth’s premature exit have since been reported and it’s been claimed that he was blamed for two disappointing summer signings.

It’s also been suggested that Ashworth could make a speedy return to football amid interest from Arsenal and Everton. A report from The Sun revealed:

‘Ashworth, who worked at Newcastle, Brighton, West Brom and the FA, could be offered a swift return.

‘Arsenal are assessing options to replace Edu as sporting director at the Emirates and Ashworth’s unexpected availability has caught their eye.’

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‘Ashworth has a close relationship with Gunners managing director Richard Garlick, who is leading the search to land a new sporting director.

‘Garlick was legal director at The Hawthorns and worked under Ashworth before replacing him as the club’s sporting director when he left to join the FA in 2013.

‘Everton are also monitoring Ashworth as they wait for The Friedkin Group to complete a takeover. The club’s prospective new owners are in the process of conducting a structural review, which will lead to new appointments including a chief executive and technical director.’

Now, a report from Sky Sports has revealed the ‘primary’ reason for Arsenal’s interest, while Mikel Arteta’s side are also considering three potential alternatives to replace Edu.

The report also revealed when Arsenal plan to have Edu’s replacement in place.

‘Dan Ashworth has emerged as a potential target for Arsenal’s vacant sporting director role.

‘This is primarily due to his good relationship with Arsenal managing director Richard Garlick, and having suddenly become available after leaving Manchester United. However, it is premature to view Ashworth as the front-runner in a process the club are taking their time to consider and implement.

‘Edu’s previous No 2 Jason Ayto has stepped up as interim sporting director and is also viewed as a candidate for the role full-time.

‘Outgoing Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe is another name in the frame, due to his good relationship with manager Mikel Arteta.

‘Arsenal are not in a rush to appoint someone before the upcoming January transfer window and are more likely to have someone in place with a view to next summer.’

Sky Sports reporter Melissa Reddy has revealed another “reason” why Manchester United appointed Ruben Amorim to replace former head coach Erik ten Hag.

The 39-year-old took over at Old Trafford last month following the sacking of Ten Hag, who was dismissed with Man Utd placed 14th in the Premier League.

Amorim had a decent start at Man Utd. His first game in charge was a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town and they then beat Bodo-Glimt and Everton. However, they have since suffered back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.

This run of results leaves United 13th in the Premier League and they are eight points adrift of fourth-placed Man City before Sunday’s Manchester derby.

Following Amorim’s arrival, Man Utd have been linked with several potential signings. Despite this, it’s been reported that he has a ‘tight budget’ to work with in January.

Reddy confirms Man Utd “do not have money” in January and has revealed another “reason” why they appointed Amorim.

“Man Utd do not have money [to spend on transfers],” Reddy revealed on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast.

READ: Ratcliffe nothing but a ‘useful idiot’ at Man Utd as Glazers laugh

“It’s wild reading the transfer news and gossip on a daily basis and you see who they’re linked to and thinking ‘Where on earth are they going to get this money from for all these forwards?’

“They have made it quite clear – and it was communicated to Ruben Amorim – that the financial constraints are real. He has to extract the maximum from the talents at the club. That was part of the reasons they brought him in.

“He’s got a very good track record of individual development and developing the collective. We’ve seen teething issues with his structure so far, but over time they’re banking on him getting the right parts in place and really bringing it home.

“They have continuously said they won’t go on a spending spree like there was under Erik ten Hag and that they are going to operate in a much more sustainable approach.”

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Sky Sports are also reporting that ‘Marcus Rashford is among Man Utd stars available for transfer as INEOS look to raise funds’.

It is also noted that his ‘homegrown status makes him an obvious candidate’ to sell to increase funds ‘as his transfer would represent pure profit’. However, Reddy says there are currently “no suitors” for the England international.

“Now, if you look at that squad and you’re thinking, ‘where can they get that money from? Who is a good asset they can sell that they don’t actually need?’ You’re struggling,” Reddy added.

“And then you think of Marcus Rashford, because he could be banked as pure profit. There are no suitors for Marcus Rashford. There are none.

“Marcus Rashford, as with many of the squad, was someone they would have been open to offers for last summer, which we reported. There was no one knocking on the door.

“Unless there’s some massive shift in form and no more reports of off-the-pitch bad behaviour, I think that is going to remain the case.”