{"id":257593,"date":"2026-08-13T15:12:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T15:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/meet-the-man-utd-target-who-could-end-rashfords-old-trafford-stay\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T15:12:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T15:12:51","slug":"meet-the-man-utd-target-who-could-end-rashfords-old-trafford-stay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/meet-the-man-utd-target-who-could-end-rashfords-old-trafford-stay\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Man Utd target who could end Rashford’s Old Trafford stay"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The football scriptwriters have done it again, it would seem, with Marcus Rashford<\/a>‘s Manchester United<\/a> return likely to take place this weekend, as the Red Devils face off against Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan.<\/p>\n

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Rashford had actually scored the first goal of the Portuguese’s tenure away at Ipswich Town, while also netting a brace in the thumping 4-0 win over Everton soon after, although all was not well behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

One misdemeanour too many saw both Amorim and the club decide to place the Englishman into exile, the 28-year-old omitted from the Manchester derby squad in December 2024. He hasn’t been seen in a United shirt since.<\/p>\n

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\n \n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

And yet, with a dream stay at Barcelona seemingly off the cards, ‘Rashy’ is back amongst it again – but to whose benefit?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Rashford return is an unwanted distraction for Michael Carrick<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

After a string of sagas involving the likes of Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mason Greenwood over recent years, there was a much-needed sense of calm among the playing ranks last season.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Eriksen\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

No public spats, no obvious infighting, with the only sense of chaos coming from Amorim himself, as the 40-year-old seemingly talked his way into the sack back in January.<\/p>\n

A previously rotten dressing room looks to have found a sense of harmony again, not least since Michael Carrick<\/a>‘s arrival in the dugout, with United almost going the entire campaign without a player catching the headlines for off-field issues.<\/p>\n

Bringing Rashford back into the mix, even if he remains on the straight and narrow, risks providing a weekly talking point for fans and pundits alike, particularly if the academy graduate isn’t a regular starter in Carrick’s side.<\/p>\n

There still remains a talent in there, as his 28 goal involvements last season showcased, but the forward’s desire to secure a permanent move to Catalonia was evident. Should Old Trafford be anyone’s second choice?<\/p>\n

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\n \"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Of course, perhaps Rashford was forced into a corner by both the club and Amorim, but there is a sense that he brought it on himself, notably scoring just 15 goals for the club since signing a bumper new deal in the summer of 2023.<\/p>\n

The 30-goal heroics of the year prior appear a distant memory now – does his quality, yet inconsistency, warrant the baggage?<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Rashford – Premier League Career<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

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Season<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Games<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Goals (Assists)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

24\/25*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6 (3)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

23\/24<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

33<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7 (2)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

22\/23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

17 (5)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

21\/22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4 (2)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

20\/21<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

37<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11 (9)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

19\/20<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

17 (7)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

18\/19<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

33<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10 (6)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

17\/18<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7 (5)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

16\/17<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

32<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5 (1)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

15\/16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5 (2)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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*including at Aston Villa<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

If United are to allow Rashford to again depart before the deadline, reinforcements will first be needed, that much is true.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Man Utd can replace Rashford this summer<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Carrick’s side wasn’t full strength for Wednesday’s ‘friendly’ with Leeds United, but it was notable the lack of genuine depth on the flanks, with the second half seeing Jack Fletcher and new man Tynan Thompson deployed out wide.<\/p>\n

Rashford watched on from the sidelines, while Shea Lacey was also kept in reserve, but that second-half lineup did point to how the Red Devils could be an injury or two away from looking so threadbare in attack.<\/p>\n

Well, at a time when supporters are craving a marquee arrival, might that player be Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola<\/a>, even with the Frenchman heavily linked with a move to Liverpool<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"bradley-barcola-france\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Albert Gea<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

As per TEAMtalk, there has been little progress in the Anfield side’s pursuit of the Frenchman, due to PSG’s reported \u00a3145m asking price, the Merseysiders perhaps wary of splashing the cash again after bringing in Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz last summer.<\/p>\n

That stalled move to Liverpool may allow rival suitors to pounce, with the likes of United, Chelsea and Manchester City said to be being ‘kept informed’ regarding any developments.<\/p>\n