United hope to retain Rashford

• Author: FOOTBALL James Ducker of the Telegraph
• Published date: 26 January 2023
• Publication title: Northern Advocate, The (Whangarei, New Zealand)

Rashford is in the form of his life, having scored 17 goals already this season, but the 25-year-old has entered the final 18 months of his contract at Old Trafford and is attracting strong interest from Paris St-Germain

United are in dialogue with Rashford’s representatives over a new deal, but the player is understood to be firmly focused on his football and keen to avoid any distractions for now as he targets silverware this season.

It means United — who met Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal at the City Ground overnight — could face an anxious wait on Rashford’s future, with PSG and other potential suitors lurking in the background.

But Ten Hag has told the player he is at the best club to realise his ambitions and that the team are being built to maximise his talents.

Asked how important it is that United keep Rashford and how talks were progressing, Ten Hag said: “The last [question] I can’t answer — it is confidential about talks between clubs and players. 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 is improving and that is about him because he’s working on the good things. He is giving 100 per cent energy in it and he has a good plan, and I think also in this team he can bring his qualities.

“So this team can help him be in the right position and to score goals, which he is good...