Marcus Rashford is currently playing for England at the World Cup, but his future at Manchester United remains uncertain
Marcus Rashford is currently in America as part of England’s World Cup squad. (Image: Kyle Rivas, Getty Images)
Manchester United have set a deadline of August 9 to finalize Marcus Rashford’s departure agreement, according to reports. The forward’s future remains uncertain after a loan spell with Barcelona last season.
He is in North America with the England squad for Saturday night’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway (kick-off 10pm). If Thomas Tuchel’s side win that match, their American adventure will extend into the final weekend.
The losing semi-finalists will compete in the third-place match on Saturday, July 18th. The final will take place 24 hours later at New Jersey Stadium in New York.
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Players returning from competitions must take at least three weeks’ rest before resuming club duties. Therefore, players participating in the final weekend of the tournament will be sent home as early as August 9th.
The Sun reports that United are keen to resolve Rashford’s future ahead of that date, with the team starting their pre-season training camp in Dublin on the same day.
Rashford has announced his intention to leave United, but a return to Barcelona seems unlikely. Under the terms of the loan deal, the Spanish club had the option to secure him permanently for a fee of £26 million.
However, they opted to sign fellow England international Anthony Gordon instead in a £70m move. The option has now expired, meaning United will be looking for a potential buyer.
The club is determined not to accept further loan deals. Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs rumored to be interested, but the forward is said to have his heart set on joining the team competing in next season’s Champions League.
Marcus Rashford celebrates England’s progress to the World Cup quarter-finals. (Image: Michael Regan – FIFA, FIFA via Getty Images)
Rashford made his stance on transfer clear ahead of England’s World Cup victory over Mexico. “I spoke clearly with all the parties involved before the World Cup. I wanted[the transfer]to be completed by then,” he said.
“If not, I wanted you to wait until later. I want to be fully present in the moment. We are fighting for something special.”
The forward played in England’s opening four World Cup matches, scoring in the win over Croatia, before being substituted on the bench for the 3-2 win over Mexico in the early hours of Monday morning. He will be hoping to earn a starting spot in this weekend’s quarter-finals, but is likely to start on the bench after Gordon’s brilliant performance against Mexico.
The 28-year-old has regained his place in the England squad following an impressive loan spell at Barcelona. Rashford played 49 games in all competitions last season, finding the back of the net 14 times and providing the same number of assists.
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