After a dismal last season, new Manchester United manager Erik tern Hag came in and plugged quite a few holes in the team during the summer transfer window.
But due to the massive rebuilding job the Dutchman has undertaken, it is likely to take him a couple more transfer windows at least to fix the problem.
In addition to buying players, there is also the issue of the completion of contracts that needs to be looked at. At the moment, ten first-team stars will become free agents in 2023.
One of the biggest names on that list is Marcus Rashford, the club’s top scorer this season with eight goals in 19 appearances in all competitions.
Bonded trigger extension
The Mancunian also had a brilliant World Cup, establishing himself as the country’s top scorer despite a lack of minutes given to him by Gareth Southgate.
Ten Hag has revealed that the club will activate the one-year extension option on his contract in a bid to avoid losing him for free next summer.
Paris Saint-Germain have expressed interest in the United academy graduate and, as The Daily Telegraph noted, “Rashford is still in a strong negotiating position… and there are growing fears that the former player will be advised of the academy that runs out”. the contract from him and look for a new challenge at the end of it ”.
But the former Ajax boss is determined to retain his stellar asset and instead of talking, he feels the club needs to show ambition and the fact that they are on the right track as well as financial stability.
And whatever happens, the club will not consider any sale requests for at least the next year and a half.
Ten Hag on Rashford and PSG interest: “He has a decision to make, so we can only show him that Man Utd is the best club to be at.” ???????? #MUFC
In a deal that will be extended until 2024 by activating the option: “He is a year and a half old and yes, Rashford will be here for all of that.” pic.twitter.com/JDzgBz2tqc
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 11, 2022
“The [Marcus] He has to make a decision,” said the coach, quoted by the club’s press department.
“The only thing we can do is show him that this is the best club to be at, that it has to do with the culture of the club and also in the way we are working, in the way we play and in the way we train and if we are offering the right environment to progress.
Rashford has Mbappé qualities
“It is also a financial problem. Then it’s up to him to make the decision. But for a year and a half, he will be here.”
The boss also compared the England international to global icon Kylian Mbappe, saying they both have similar qualities, noting that Rashford could have the same devastating effect in future with the Dutchman.
“From the first moment, I recognized enormous potential,” added the manager. “And now, to bring out the potential, I think when Marcus’s positioning is at the back of the defense line, there’s almost no better player in the world.
“There is Mbappé at the moment, a guy like him, but when he [Marcus] He is putting himself in that position, he is great and you see that he has improved a lot also out of possession”.
This exchange between Mbappé and Rashford ❤️ pic.twitter.com/eq8muqQBhV
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) December 11, 2022
It’s been a big change since I was 25 years old. He was supposed to be a world beater when he burst onto the scene with Louis Van Gaal.
And with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it seemed like he was close to realizing that potential. But the heartbreak of Euro 2020, coupled with the shoulder injury, almost derailed everything.
Rashford is back to his best
Last season, Rashford seemed lost, uninterested and reports tying the whim to an outing abounded. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi also revealed that the pair had talked about a future move.
But under Ten Hag, those negative habits have disappeared once more and the attacker is playing with a smile on his face and looks completely transformed.
“One of the first things I told him was come train and smile,” revealed the coach. “We bring you exercises that we hope will bring joy to the players. They have to be effective but they also have to be joyful and that gives you energy when you’re happy. When you see the benefit of it, you can be happy.
“Actually, Marcus was one, from the beginning, who came to Carrington with a smile and left with a smile day after day. And, from the first moment, it was a real pleasure to work with him. I recognize his talent and his talent to finish off [is] great.
