Marcus Rashford will reportedly meet with Manchester United’s new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his leadership group for crucial ‘showdown talks’ over his future at Old Trafford.
Reports this week claimed the Red Devils were ready for a total overhaul of their first team. The Telegraph had claimed the club was open to which players could leave this summer, with Mail Sport also revealing that selling Rasford was an option.
The English forward has largely failed to live up to his record of 30 goals from last season. He has finished just eight times in all competitions this season. Rashford also suffered off-the-field problems after he was spotted at a nightclub in Belfast and subsequently missed training.
Paris Saint-Germain, who have previously held talks with Rashford’s agents, are one club that have been linked with a move for the United Academy graduate, who could reportedly be snapped up for around £80 million by his deal at Old Trafford.
But according to The sunIt appears Man United’s new co-owners are keen to keep the England star at the club. The outlet suggests that while Rashford has cut a dejected figure of late, ‘Ratcliffe hasn’t given up on him’ and wants to understand why Rashford has been struggling of late.
Marcus Rashford is reportedly set to hold talks with Man United bosses over his future at the club
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to know why Rashford has dipped in form this season
Reports suggest that Sir Dave Brailsford will lead talks between the club and the forward
The report also claims that Sir Dave Brailsford could lead talks between Rashford, his representatives and the club, with INEOS hoping the talks can mend any rifts that may have developed between Rashford and his manager Erik Ten Hag.
The Sun had also claimed that Rashford will ‘resist any attempt to sell him this summer’.
The Dutchman had opted not to pick Rashford for their FA Cup tie against Newport County in January after he was pictured at a Belfast nightclub – with the club handling the matter internally.
After the incident, Ten Hag had warned Rashford and his players that they ‘need to learn how to behave’ and urged professionalism among his squad.
Despite this, the Dutch manager has continued to support his £315-a-week star after Rashford recently spoke out against the abuse he suffered online.
The attacker had responded to a social media post claiming that the online abuse he had received from fan accounts, including Mark Goldbridge’s YouTube channel The United Stand, was ‘cruel’.
Rashford said: ‘I appreciate your support! It is abuse and it has been [like this] for months. Enough is enough.’
Ten Hag stood next to his attacker and said: ‘Of course I have a lot of sympathy for Rashy.’
“Last year he had a brilliant season, the best season of his career with 30 goals, so you see what he is capable of.
Erik ten Hag recently denied reports that United were ‘open’ to selling a number of key players
He and Rashford have had an on-and-off relationship this season, but the manager recently put his faith in the forward after the England star said he had been the target of online abuse.
Rashford thanked fans online for their support before declaring he had ‘had enough’
This week, speculation has emerged that the club is willing to cash in on their entire squad, with the exception of three players
‘This season he didn’t give the performances and people are very critical. I think we should support him.
“Everyone should support him and push him to get back to last year’s level.”
Ten Hag has since labeled reports that United could undergo a major overhaul of their squad as ‘total c***’.
‘As long as I work here, I think that every summer, every period, 200 players will receive interest from Manchester United. We did some research. Not true,” he said of the reports, calling them a “joke.”
‘And also every summer we sell all the players in our squad, so you (in the media) are making all the headlines, which is not true.
Rashford will reportedly resist any attempt by Man United to sell him this summer
‘I think you have to be calm and also take some responsibility when you make a headline like that. Think, find a good source if there is any truth to it and this is total c***.”
Meanwhile, Rashford is unlikely to return to Premier League action against Crystal Palace on Monday after being ruled out with an injury during the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry.
“I can’t say (when he’ll be back),” Ten Hag said. ‘So it was absence against Sheffield last week, after Coventry, so far his problem hasn’t healed.’