Manchester United Give Marcus Rashford a Hard Deadline as Two New Signings Near Medicals

Manchester United have drawn a firm line on Marcus Rashford’s future. The club is telling the forward he needs to be moved before their pre-season trip to Dublin starts August 8. And they are done letting him go on loan.

Rashford spent last season at Barcelona but the Spanish club passed on the £26 million option to make it permanent. Instead they went and paid £70 million for Anthony Gordon from Newcastle. So Rashford is coming back to Old Trafford. Only he is probably not staying.

Michael Carrick has already said he is stepping away. The manager announced his decision to leave. And Rashford is not part of whatever comes next. That much is clear. The 28-year-old forward has made his own stance public. He wants to wait until after the World Cup to figure out where he goes. He said he was upfront with everyone before the tournament started that he wanted a deal done early. “If it’s not, I wanted it to wait until after. I want to be fully present in the moment. We’re fighting for something special.”

United are not on the same page there. According to the Sun, the club is pushing to sell him before that August 8 camp. And they are not interested in another loan. No more temporary solutions. If Rashford goes, it has to be permanent. West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville has been mentioned as a potential replacement on the wing.

Ederson and Andrey Santos Closing In

While Rashford’s situation drags, United are moving fast on other fronts. The first signing of the summer is essentially done. Atalanta’s Ederson is flying to England this week for a medical. The deal is worth £35 million plus another £3.8 million in add-ons. He will sign a four-year contract. The delay was only about Brazil’s World Cup run. They got knocked out by Norway in the round of 16. That cleared the way.

Then there’s Andrey Santos. Chelsea had him but United are pulling him the other way. Standard Sport has confirmed that a bid of £48 million plus £2 million in easy add-ons has been accepted by Chelsea. The young midfielder looks headed for Manchester.

So two medicals are being booked. One for Ederson. One for Santos. That is a lot of midfield reinforcements incoming. And it makes Rashford’s exit feel more and more like a matter of when, not if. The club wants it done before Dublin. The player wants to wait until after the World Cup. Something has to give.