The fairytale love affair between Manchester United and Marcus Rashford could be set for an unexpectedly early end after reports coming out of France have confirmed interest from Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.
As per news outlet Get French Football citing L’Équipe, PSG has already opened talks with Rashford which are said to be already advancing positively.
🚨 PSG are targeting Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford (24) – talks advancing positively with the player’s entourage. (L’Éq)https://t.co/Vvrc9yueeM
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) August 11, 2022
Interest in Rashford, who has just one year left on his current terms with United, comes in the wake of the capital side preparing to part ways with both Mauro Icardi and young striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, according to manager Christophe Galtier in his press conference earlier this evening.
Icardi is no doubt heading for the exit and looking for new pastures since the arrival of Galtier, while the 20-year-old Kalimuendo – who spent two years on loan at Racing Club de Lens to considerable success – is off to another loan stint, this time at Stade Rennais.
The loss of Rashford would be another hammer blow for United who is already struggling to replace both Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matić after their free transfer moves to Juventus and AS Roma this summer, and would leave the club painfully light in trusted forward options that are more senior figures in the squad under Erik ten Hag.
Rashford has struggled to make good on the promise shown earlier in his career for a myriad of reasons, with a sensation 2019-20 campaign marking the high point of his United career when he hit 17 goals and added 9 assists, though the following season’s return of 11 goals and 11 assists was hardly a poor showing.
The Red Devils have already been linked with names the likes of Ismaïla Sarr and Cody Gakpo recently, irrespective of the club still trying to source replacements in the heart of midfield through possible deals for Adrien Rabiot and Sergej Milinković-Savić.
Confirmation of the contacts between PSG and Marcus Rashford, as reported first by L’Equipe. PSG need a player who can play wide or as a 9. Rashford is keen on a new challenge, one year before the end of his contract. No discussions yet with Manchester United. @ESPNFC
— Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) August 11, 2022
Should Rashrd depart, it could mean that United need to bring in two forwards rather than one despite both Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga already being in the senior squad, with Argentine youngster Alejandro Garnacho joining them after being promoted this summer.
It is not out of the realm of possibility that United could – in theory – pose a swap for Icardi given the Argentine’s desire to leave the Parc des Princes this window, though there is no indication such an offer is currently on the table at this time.
In what was already set to be a tense period for United before the transfer window closes, it could end in action stations at Old Trafford if the club are to properly supply Erik ten Hag with the goods necessary to guide the club back into the thick of the fight for a top-four finish come the end of the season.
