According to reports originating from Spain, Real Madrid have expressed interest in securing Manchester United’s forward Marcus Rashford in a surprising move during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Despite having an impressive record of scoring 30 goals across all competitions last season, the English international has struggled to maintain consistent performance levels this year.
Rashford has faced criticism for his alleged poor attitude, notably being excluded from the Man Utd squad by manager Erik ten Hag after being spotted at a nightclub prior to a match last month. However, the 26-year-old has shown resilience by scoring three goals in his last five Premier League appearances.
Although Rashford remains a crucial asset for Manchester United, Real Madrid appears to be seriously contemplating a transfer bid for him at the conclusion of the current season.
Reports suggest that Real Madrid may propose a player exchange deal, with Takefuso Kubo, who currently competes for Real Sociedad, being considered as part of the offer. Real Madrid reportedly plans to exercise their buy-back clause of €30m (£25.5m) for Kubo before presenting him to Manchester United.
Despite Rashford being under contract with Manchester United until 2028, previous estimations indicate that the club would entertain offers around £120m, although this figure may be optimistic.
To persuade Manchester United to part with Rashford, Real Madrid would likely need to offer a substantial transfer fee in addition to Kubo. Nevertheless, Kubo is a talented player in his own right, boasting promising potential that could be beneficial for Manchester United in the long run.
Having joined Real Sociedad in 2022, Kubo has made significant contributions, scoring 15 goals and providing 13 assists in 71 appearances. With time and experience, the 22-year-old winger is expected to further develop, potentially becoming a valuable asset for Manchester United.
Despite potential plans for a squad overhaul by the club’s new minority shareholder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, deciding to offload Rashford would undoubtedly be a significant decision for Manchester United. Nonetheless, the evolution of this narrative over the next few months will undoubtedly be intriguing to observe.