Manchester United have two games still to play but Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a number of decisions to make ahead of the summer.
The first will be a call on Erik ten Hag’s future, which may already be set no matter how the FA Cup final goes. A deal for Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth will meanwhile hope to be struck with the Magpies chief still on gardening leave.
It’s also set to be a busy transfer window, which will be impacted by if United earn European football for next season. But MEN Sport understands that just four players are exempt from sales with Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Andre Onana off limits.
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That means United will consider offers for several senior players including Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez and Marcus Rashford.
Rashford told to secure transfer exit
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan says Rashford ought to leave United for both the sake of the club and himself. After last year’s 30-goal haul, the attacker has scored just eight times this season.
The attacker was seen taking issue with a United supporter ahead of Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Newcastle, in which he started the game on the bench. Some sections of the fanbase are disgruntled with the 26-year-old.
As well as his poor showings, the player was seen partying after October’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City and was talked to by Ten Hag after a boozy night in Belfast in January. “I think he’s done,” Jordan said on the Three Up Front podcast.
“The problem with Marcus Rashford now is that well has been polluted, I think he has to move on as much for himself as potentially for Manchester United.” Rashford penned a new five-year deal with United last July.
MEN Sport’s Isaac Johnson says: “Despite his lack of form, Rashford’s exit would cause more problems than solutions. Unless a truly irresistible opportunity arrives, it would seem premature to let him go considering the current attacking options.
“Last season, he became the first United player in a decade to score 30 goals in a season and that shouldn’t be forgotten. A poor season, yes, but Rashford is not a poor player.
“It’s more likely that he exits due to his own wish, which is a possibility if Paris Saint-Germain come calling, asking him to be Kylian Mbappe’s successor. Now, that would be a hard opportunity for the player to turn down.”
Juventus chief mocks United
Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli says United cannot offer what his club can next season and has mocked the idea that key members of the Old Lady squad could leave for Old Trafford.
United, who could record their worst ever Premier League finish this season, risk missing out on European football and will definitely play no part in next season’s revamped Champions League.
United are looking for two centre-backs this summer and Gleison Bremer has been tentatively linked. However, Giuntoli has laughed off the idea that the defender, and other important Juventus players, would want to move to United given their situation.
He said as per La Gazzetta Dello Sport: “Bremer, [Dusan] Vlahovic and [Andrea] Cambiaso are untouchable, the others can be reasoned with.”
On Bremen, he added: “Not for the 60 million of the clause, a hundred would be needed. I am convinced that he will stay in Turin. Juve will play the Champions League and the Club World Cup, what would he do at United?”
MEN Sport’s Isaac Johnson says: “While United’s situation is worrisome, Juventus can hardly take the moral high ground. They were banned from UEFA competition this season due to financial breaches and have not earned their 2025 Club World Cup spot on merit.
“Sure, there is no Champions League football next season but the Premier League is an attractive prospect for every player due to its high profile and luxurious wages. Admittedly, Bremer would need some convincing to join United and this might be a theme of their transfer window.”
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