Marcus Rashford will become the highest earner at Manchester United – if he agrees to stay long term.
United are exercising their option to extend the striker’s current contract, due to end in June, by a further year. That stops him becoming a free agent next summer – and being able to talk to foreign clubs in the new year.
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are stepping up their interest in Rashford as doubts over his future grow. The homegrown United star, 25, has refused to sign a new £300,000-a-week contract on the table at Old Trafford.
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And now the Reds hierarchy are preparing to increase that offer to a whopping £400,000 a week. That basic salary would automatically rocket Rashford to the top of the club’s wage bill.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who was on £500,000 a week, is off the books, leaving Spanish keeper David de Gea (£375k) as the current highest earner. United, though, are ready to smash that pay structure to persuade Rashford to remain – and spearhead the team’s resurgence under Erik ten Hag.
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The Dutch coach reiterated his faith in the England international last week, insisting that whatever the outcome of the ongoing talks, Rashford will be at the club for the next 18 months.
While he would love to keep him that long, Ten Hag actually knows United will be forced to cash in next summer – should the contract stalemate persist.
They will want at least £80million to sell, reluctantly, to Real or PSG – rather than risk losing him for nothing in June 2024. Yet, while both European giants can easily top the improved terms for Rashford, United, according to a source, still reckon they have a ‘60-40 chance’ of winning the battle.
Rashford, who scored three times at the World Cup finals, has hit eight in 19 club appearances this term – fully justifying manager Ten Hag’s decision to pick him ahead of disgruntled Ronaldo.
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