Man Utd information: Michael Carrick says star ‘able to kick on’ as Marcus Rashford demand made

Manchester United have food for thought before they return to Premier League action as Michael Carrick focuses on the race for Champions League qualification

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A frustrating draw at West Ham halted Manchester United’s winning run as Michael Carrick’s squad now have time to regroup before returning to Premier League action.

Spirits remain high in the camp despite the club’s first failure to secure victory under Carrick’s stewardship. The Red Devils maintained their unbeaten record across five matches under the interim boss. after Benjamin Sesko emerged from the substitutes’ bench to slot home a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium on Tuesday evening.

United held onto fourth place in the table following fifth-placed Chelsea’s surrender of two crucial points in their own 2-2 draw against Leeds at Stamford Bridge. Carrick’s squad showed fighting spirit to salvage a point and preserve the longest current unbeaten run in England’s top division, with the Red Devils next in action against Everton on February 23 due to having already been knocked out of the FA Cup, which returns this weekend. Here’s all the latest news from Old Trafford.

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Barca request lower Rashford fee

United have received disappointing news regarding Marcus Rashford’s future and Barcelona’s potential permanent move for the forward, reports the Mirror.

The development is that Barca would entertain signing the player, but only if his price tag is slashed. To many, the £26million clause included in the Englishman’s contract was already considered a steal.

Rashford may be 28-years-old, but his tally of 10 goals and 13 assists in 34 appearances for them provides ample proof that he warrants the fee. United supporters will be delighted to hear Sport report that a deal “won’t be possible” for any less.

Consequently, it appears United may need to go back to square one this summer and seek additional buyers if Rashford is genuinely determined to depart.

However, there’s mounting speculation that the forward could have a future at Old Trafford after all. Interim manager Carrick has made his desire to bring Rashford back to his boyhood club crystal clear, and their previous relationship could prove pivotal.

A recent setback has emerged in the form of Rashford’s knee injury, which sidelines him for the immediate future. The Englishman faces a battle to regain full fitness before summer to ensure he’ll be available for United’s transfer showcase.

Carrick highlights Sesko

After his heroics at the London Stadium during the week, Sesko has garnered fresh acclaim from his bosses. Carrick trusted the summer acquisition to salvage something from the match after Tomas Soucek’s strike put West Ham in front, and Sesko responded with a clever volley at the near post.

Despite a slow start at United, Sesko has now netted five goals in his last six appearances for the club. His goals have been crucial, including one in the 3-2 victory over Fulham and a double in the 2-2 draw with Burnley.

The manager expressed his admiration for the entire squad’s efforts, despite dropping two points in east London. He singled out Sesko, who came on as a substitute and scored the equaliser, for special praise.

“Leny [Yoro]’s come on and made a big difference for us tonight in big moments, and then Ben scored again,” he said after the game. “Ben’s doing a lot work. He’s in a good place, he’s ready to kick on, it’s just managing the balance.

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“We could have changed things a little bit earlier. That’s obviously the decision we’re always trying to make and we were actually having a bit of a spell in the game at that point where we thought we might come back into it, but when Ben came on the pitch he made a big difference.”

Speaking after the game, the Slovenian said he and his team-mates are “living for each other” in their battle to tie down a top-four finish and qualify for next term’s Champions League.

“We are living for each other,” he told MUTV. “We are doing everything to win the games, to secure the Champions League spot because we believe that we have the team for it.

“We have the quality, and yeah, we’re going to fight towards it. Unfortunately, the game was like it was. We have to now look forward to the next game and try to win it.”