Reports have suggested that Marcus Rashford has agreed in principle to sign a new contract with Manchester United. The five-year-deal is set to be completed and announced this week and puts an end to rumours linking him with Paris Saint Germain and other Premier League clubs who were attracted by the end of his current deal next summer.
There never seemed much likelihood of Rashford leaving Old Trafford though, having re-established himself as a crucial played under Erik Ten Hag last season. He scored 30 goals in all competitions, having managed just 5 in 2021-22 when he endured a miserable campaign, affected by injuries and a loss of confidence.
12 months ago, a five-year deal at Old Trafford worth a reported £375,000 seemed like an unlikely development for Rashford, whose future was very much in doubt. This bumper new contract is a fitting reward for a dramatic improvement, but what can Rashford bring to United in Ten Hag’s second season?
Goals, Goals and More Goals?
The big question for Manchester United (and FPL managers around the world) is will Rashford have another prolific season? Looking back at his career so far, a 30-goal season is certainly the outlier, but before his loss of form, he’d managed 22 goals in 2019-20 and 21 in 2020-21, both respectable returns if not spectacular.Â
After bursting onto the scene in 2015-16 with his league debut brace against Arsenal, Rashford took a while to establish himself as a regular scorer, struggling for form under Jose Mourinho. It took him until the 2018-19 season to get into double figures in the league, boosted by the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
With Manchester United yet to sign a striker this summer, they are currently looking like they will be just as reliant on Rashford’s goals next season, especially if they want to try and sustain a title challenge. Whether he will continue to play on the left flank or through the centre, Ten Hag needs him to repeat or improve upon last season’s heroics.
A Future Leader?
This has been a summer of changes at Old Trafford, with the last remaining players from Sir Alex Ferguson’s era (Phil Jones and David de Gea) departing, while Harry Maguire’s spell as club captain has come to an end.Â
Rashford is unlikely to take the armband, which is surely destined for Bruno Fernandes, but having made his debut in 2016, he is now United’s third longest-serving current player behind Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial.Â
At the age of 25 and as a locally-born player, Ten Hag will be looking to Rashford to take on a leadership role within the squad over the next few seasons. He has already shown away from the pitch that he is comfortable taking the lead with his school meals political campaign, but can he do the same for a United squad still being evolved ahead of Ten Hag’s second season?
With a big new salary coming his way, Rashford will have to cope with much higher expectations this season and how he deals with them will go a long way to deciding what chance United have of competing at the top.
