Man Utd take ‘no major steps forward’ on Rashford deal with club adamant they won’t ‘disrupt’ FFP
There has been very little progress on a new deal for Marcus Rashford at Man Utd with the club looking to get a tighter control on wages, according to reports.
Erik ten Hag has already guided the Red Devils to glory in the Carabao Cup this season with the trophy only their fourth piece of major silverware since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013.
And there is now a feeling of positivity around the club under Ten Hag with the club third in the Premier League table and having two remaining shots at more silverware in the Europa League and FA Cup.
Rejuvenated Rashford has been key to that upturn in fortunes and negotiations are under way over a new deal, with the homegrown star’s current contract expiring in the summer of 2024.
There have been rumours that French side Paris Saint-Germain are interested in his services but the most likely outcome seems to be him remaining at Old Trafford and signing a contract extension.
However, The Athletic have an update on negotiations with the website claiming:
‘There is some way to go. Initial discussions between United and Rashford’s representatives have already been held and more are planned, but there have been no major steps forward.
‘Sources on both sides insist these are early days in the process. There is a mutual understanding that this will be the biggest and most important contract of Rashford’s career.’
The renewal of David de Gea’s contract is the ‘most pressing negotiation’ with the hope the Spaniard will reduce his £375,000-a-week wages.
Despite that, Man Utd are also ‘looking to press on with Rashford’s contract’ with sources telling The Athletic that they ‘expect the pace to pick up in the next few months’.
Rashford is looking for an increase to his £200,000-per-week salary with a number of his Man Utd team-mates on more than that already.
The Athletic adds:
‘Although [Cristiano] Ronaldo has now departed, the arrivals of Raphael Varane and Casemiro in consecutive summers also inflated United’s wage bill to a point where the club has to be watchful about their adherence to UEFA’s overhauled financial fair play (FFP) regulations on cost control.
‘Without applying any self-imposed cap on wages, United are keen to avoid huge discrepancies between players to maintain a harmonious dressing room.
‘An improved deal for Rashford will have to slot into that wage structure and not disrupt those FFP calculations. Club sources are hopeful of reaching an understanding and believe there is already a lot of agreement on both sides at this early stage.’
And Ten Hag outlined the importance of keeping Rashford with the Dutchman seeing the England international as their key to success.
“It is confidential about talks between clubs and players,” Ten Hag said at the end of January. “I think he understands Man United is his club. That’s first.
“But also, in this environment, in this team, I think he is playing his best football. He’s improving and that’s about him because he’s working on the good things.
“He’s giving 100 per cent energy in it, he has a good plan and I think also in this team he can bring in his qualities.
“So, this team can help him get in the right position and to score goals, where he is good at.
“This team is constructed like this that his qualities come in from and I think he knows that but definitely, yeah, he’s important for us.
“If we want to get the success we want, we need him.”
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