Manchester United fear being forced to sell Marcus Rashford next summer.
The Daily Star says Rashford is attracting interest from Europe’s elite as he enters the final six months of his current £200,000-a week-contract. Real Madrid, who have long been admirers, are at the front of that queue as they search for a successor to Karim Benzema.
United appear in a comfortable position regarding their homegrown star’s future as they have an option to extend his existing deal by another year. But while that will protect them from losing him on a free in June, it may not keep him at Old Trafford much longer.
United have put a bumper new deal on the table for Rashford worth a basic £300,000-a-week. But so far he has yet to sign it and, while that stalemate persists, there is growing concern they will have to cash in their asset before the start of next season.
If Rashford does not put to pen paper, the Red Devils are expected to listen to offers in the region of £80m for him – rather than let him wind down the additional 12 months and then leave for free the following summer.
That would be a big blow to United boss Erik ten Hag, whose faith in the player has helped reignite his career – for club and country.
