Manchester United have underperformed in the summer transfer window, but Michael Carrick and his men have plenty of time to make the necessary changes.
But Carrick will have a new signing at Old Trafford next season, and his name is Marcus Rashford. The 28-year-old winger has just come off a loan spell with title-winning Barcelona, and will link up with his long-term club ahead of pre-season.
The last time Rashford played against United, he fell to the side of the road and was slashed by Ruben Amorim. Many expected Rashford, who scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions, to remain in Catalonia permanently. A £25m buyout option was slim, but La Blaugrana manager opted for Anthony Gordon instead, signing Rashford’s Three Lions team-mate for £69m.
Premier League Marcus Rashford (Man United) | ||
|---|---|---|
season | app | Goal + Assist |
24/25 | twenty five | 6+4 |
23/24 | 33 | 7+3 |
22/23 | 35 | 17+6 |
21/22 | twenty five | 4+2 |
20/21 | 37 | 11+13 |
19/20 | 31 | 17+9 |
18/19 | 33 | 10+7 |
17/18 | 35 | 7+5 |
16/17 | 32 | 5+2 |
15/16 | 11 | 5+2 |
By all accounts, Rashford is currently set to stay, but INEOS are still on the lookout for a winger.
Why Manchester United are still looking for a winger
In some ways it seems foolish to part ways with Rashford. He is an accomplished winger with extensive experience at the Theater of Dreams. He has been a Manchester United supporter since he was a boy and once scored 30 goals in one season for the club (2022/23).
There is a quiet sense that Rashford’s return to the Carrick team is nothing more than a ploy devised to drum up interest in his signature. Tottenham Hotspur are one of the clubs interested in signing him this summer.
Rashford is no stranger to the Premier League, having scored 89 goals in the competition. But INEOS is looking to wipe out a clean slate, shake up its ranks and reduce its wage bill. Rashford’s weekly wage of £325,000 makes him one of England’s highest earners.
There is an impression that United are tacitly preparing to let Rashford go, even though his release clause has expired, which could make negotiations more difficult.
Reports that United are interested in a superstar like Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior may be off the mark, but there are players who have attracted attention, such as Jason Wilcox, and if there is a farm move for Rashford in the coming weeks, there is one man who could make a big difference for Carrick next year.
Man United ready to replace Rashford
Manchester United has a wide range of profiles. However, Amad Diallo has also been linked with a move this summer, with the tricky Ivorian attacker usually playing on the right flank, but United will need to aim to sign even bigger talent if they are to improve under Carrick.
Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, Man United are actually ready to replace Rashford with a player of even greater talent than Amad, namely West Ham United’s Chrisencio Somerville, who was recently the subject of a £39m bid from Roma.
Roma have made a bid for Crisencio Somerville. Aston Villa are also calling. Roma are working hard to finalize the deal. Why aren’t Manchester United progressing? Somerville was an option on United’s list if Marcus Rashford left. That is not the case at this time.
INEOS’ interest in Somerville has cooled as Rashford is currently preparing for a return to Old Trafford. Still, United have shown significant interest in West Ham’s Dutch winger in recent months, and his performances for club and country suggest he is ready for the highest level.
Kevin Nolan said he was “incredible” as West Ham’s final fight against relegation ultimately failed after being targeted by team-mates looking for relief. He may have failed to keep them going, but his powerful running and grace on the ball are attributes United need to strengthen their project.
The Dutch international is only 24 and not quite on the crest of a wave, but he has emerged from the rough waters of the London Stadium with a long and elite list of suitors looking to throw him a lifeline.
Man United could be the perfect destination if he wants to remain in the Premier League, allowing him to continue his progression and play the high-intensity role on the left flank that the system requires.
Rashford is arguably more powerful in front of goal, but Somerville has shown he has it in his locker, scoring two goals and assisting two each for Orange this summer, winning an average of 5.5 duels and completing an average of 1.6 dribbles each game in the league last year.
A quick look at Diallo, a player who improved and deepened his connection with United’s fan base last season, suggests that Somerville perhaps has even greater potential than he does. The 24-year-old only scored two goals in the Premier League last year and missed six big chances. He won an average of four duels per match, but Somerville surpassed him there too.
Although they are similar wingers, Somerville will establish himself as a star man and United cannot afford to miss out on a player, although uncertainty remains over Rashford.
He is a winger who will lift Manchester United up. He is much younger than Rashford and probably has a more robust approach than Diallo.
Matheus Cunha and Brian Mbeumo are not full-fledged wingers, so Somerville could be United’s best player next year, replacing Rashford and taking a huge financial burden off the payroll while packing a bigger punch than Amad.
