United told not to strengthen a Premier League rival
Manchester United have been warned not to sell Marcus Rashford to a Premier League rival. Rene Meulensteen, who was Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant manager at Old Trafford, believes selling Rashford to the likes of Tottenham Hotspur could hurt the club.
Spurs were recently linked with a £30million move for the England international, whose future at the club is uncertain. Barcelona chose not to sign him permanently, and no club has yet come forward with a meaningful offer for the Reds. Michael Carrick re-integrating him back into the squad is not impossible, but it's widely been believed both parties feel a clean break is best for everyone. If this is the case, Meulenseteen warned United not to sell to a Premier League rival.
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Speaking to Andy's Bet Club, Meulensteen, when questioned whether the scenario might mirror United's choice to sell Scott McTominay, who has since flourished for Napoli, responded:
Would selling Marcus Rashford be a repeat of selling Scott McTominay?
I don't think people see Scott McTominay the same way. He moved because the club wanted to sell, and he has done brilliantly since. People might wonder if United sold him too early.
But selling Marcus Rashford to a direct competitor like Arsenal or Chelsea could really hurt you. He is still a player who can make a difference. Ideally, if United sell him, they should sell him abroad.
Meulensteen also suggested Saudi Arabia could be a potential destination or maybe even the MLS, saying:
Saudi Arabia could be an option for Rashford depending on what he wants,
Perhaps one of the other big clubs will sign him so he can keep playing in the Champions League. Or he might make a move to Saudi or maybe the MLS, who knows?
Meulensteen also urged Carrick to open up a dialogue with Rashford to gauge his state of mind and establish how he might contribute to the club. He said:
Michael Carrick is the type of person who recognises Marcus's qualities.
They need an open conversation so Marcus understands what is required. Michael Carrick won't want to bring someone back if it creates another problem. If the clarity is there, he would be happy to bring him back into the fold.
However, with the other players available, there wouldn't be a guaranteed start every week. The fact that it is taking so long to find clarity suggests there is still something brewing in the background. If all parties were happy for him to come back, they would likely have made that clear very quickly.
When it comes to attacking options, United's primary weapons are Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount frequently operating in the pocket just behind the striker. Patrick Dorgu was also reinvented as a left-winger under Carrick, chipping in with several crucial goals before an injury derailed his progress last season.
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