Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is holding out for a Champions League club next season.
The England international fell out with head coach Ruben Amorim in December and did not play a game for United in over six weeks.
He finally went out on loan to Aston Villa in January, where he scored four goals and provided five assists in 17 matches.
The Villans had a £40 million buy option but a huge spanner was thrown into the works when they failed to qualify for the Champions League by ironically losing 2-0 to United on the final day of the season.
Rashford will return to the club but with Amorim’s future secure for the time being, the winger will surely leave this summer. What’s more, it has been reported that incoming signing Matheus Cunha will be given his number 10 shirt.
The Sun report that “Marcus Rashford is holding out for Champions League football next season — in a blow to Aston Villa and Manchester United.”
It is thought that Villa coach Unai Emery wanted him to remain permanently in Birmingham but this will not happen due to their inability to qualify for the Champions League.
Rashford has already taken to social media to bid farewell to the Villa supporters, ruling out a potential return.
United will be desperate for the extra cash injection from his sale and the shedding of his £350,000 weekly wage.
FC Barcelona would fit the bill as a Champions League club who he is seemingly desperate to play for.
Both Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco and manager Hansi Flick, have spoken glowingly about the attacker in recent days. Nonetheless, there are doubts that the Catalans can or are willing to pay the price United would be looking for.
Champions League finalists Paris-Saint Germain have also been linked to a move in the past and it will be intriguing to see if they reignite their previous interest in him.
United have numerous attacking targets this summer with a move for Matheus Cunha almost complete. They are also interested in Liam Delap and Bryan Mbeumo. The sale of Rashford alongside the likes of Antony and Jadon Sancho are clearly essential for the club’s summer reconstruction in attack.
Feature image Dan Istitene via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
