Manchester United have opened the door to a potential return for Marcus Rashford after a tumultuous week in the transfer window, which saw them miss out on midfielder Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur. United pulled out of the race for Fernandes after Spurs matched West Ham's £85 million asking price for the Portugal Under-21 international, with the club citing the fee as above their valuation. The Red Devils are now moving on to other midfield targets, having also missed on their number one choice, Elliot Anderson, earlier this summer.
Rashford's Potential Return
From a purely footballing perspective, bringing Rashford back makes sense. The forward scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists for Barcelona last season, and it's worth remembering he is on such a big contract at United because he scored 30 goals in the 2022/23 campaign. While there is baggage to consider, United need strength in depth on the left wing, and Rashford offers that. He is also a different type of winger compared to Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu. Additionally, Rashford can play through the middle and serve as backup to Benjamin Sesko.
However, a reduced salary for Rashford is not going to happen. He has two years left on a contract worth around £325,000 a week, and to reduce his salary, he would need to sign a new deal. The wage issue is significant; United have worked hard to reduce their wage bill in recent years and have tried to create a more balanced salary structure in the first-team squad. Rashford's return would upset that balance and could lead to other players, particularly those being picked ahead of him, seeking new contracts that approach his salary.
Fernandes Miss and Transfer Window Outlook
Despite losing out on Fernandes, the view inside Old Trafford is not that the window is disastrous. The window hasn't started particularly well, and missing out on Fernandes after Anderson went to Manchester City is a big blow. However, United have other targets in midfield, and they did not view Fernandes as an £85 million player. He is not the finished article and would not necessarily have transformed United next season. The key now is to get the next deal right; there are other names on their shortlist that the data looks good on, and players who can improve the team. If they secure a big signing, the narrative around the window will change.
Centre-Back Situation
United have five centre-backs on their books: Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, and Ayden Heaven. Despite fitness concerns around some, adding a sixth or seventh centre-back makes no sense. All except De Ligt are currently fit and should be fit for the start of the season, with De Ligt due to return in the first few weeks of the campaign. He expects that to be the end of his back issues. De Ligt and Martinez need a season to prove their fitness, and departures could happen next summer. Maguire and Martinez are both out of contract in 12 months. Having focused on forwards in 2025 and midfielders now, the defence is likely to be a major focus next summer, but a new centre-back this year would be a surprise.
Tonali and Other Targets
Missing out on Sandro Tonali is not a concern at Old Trafford. United never made a concrete move for him and did not rival Tottenham for his signature. While there is admiration for Tonali, there are concerns: he wants to return to Italy, but no Serie A club can afford him, and his previous gambling issues are a potential red flag. United liked him as a player, but there is no disappointment in missing out.
Regarding other midfield targets, work is ongoing to sign a midfielder, and probably two more. Names like Mamadou Sangaré and Angelo Stiller have not been mentioned as top targets. Alex Scott feels the most likely at the moment, although Arsenal also want him, which is a worry. There are still two months left of the transfer window, and plenty of excellent players are available. Casemiro didn't sign until late August in 2022, and that worked out fine.
Mainoo's World Cup Absence
Kobbie Mainoo's lack of playing time at the World Cup is puzzling. While Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are a good first-choice midfield partnership, it's surprising that Jude Bellingham was dropped into a deeper role against Panama instead of giving Mainoo a game, and that Reece James moved into midfield during the win against Croatia. Jordan Henderson's inclusion is understandable as a leader, but Mainoo is now a better player and should be getting game time ahead of him.
