Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford is holding off on signing a new contract, as he seeks clarity over the club’s plans moving forward after a poor season.
According to a report from The Sun, Manchester United superstar Marcus Rashford is seeking assurances over the direction the club is heading in under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before putting pen to a new contract.
Rashford has grown into one of Manchester United’s most prominent players since bursting onto the scenes back in 2015-16 under Louis van Gaal. The England international, despite being just 21 years old, has already accumulated 170 appearances for the Red Devils, grabbing 45 goals and assisting 26 more.
Rashford’s current contract with Manchester United will expire at the end of the 2019-20 season, although the club have the option of extending it by a further twelve months. Negotiations over a new contract have been going on for a while now, but the two parties have been unable to arrive at an agreement as of yet.
And as per latest developments, the academy graduate has decided to hold off on signing a new deal until he is clear on the club’s direction and plans for the future after a disastrous 2018-19 season.
Things had looked bright for Manchester United after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had replaced Jose Mourinho as the manager. However, the shocking slump in form towards the end of the season made sure that the Red Devils finished the season in the sixth place in the Premier League, missing out on Champions League football for next season.
And as things stand, Rashford wants to make sure that the 20-time English champions are heading on the right track before he decides to commit his long-term future to the club. “Next season we need to get back to how Manchester United play, for me that’s most important. We need to find that willingness and respond the right way,” the striker posted on social media earlier this week.
The situation is far from ideal for Manchester United. With a major rebuild job on the cards, the Red Devils cannot afford to lose one of the key cogs in their team if they are to rise back to the top of English football. However, Rashford’s contract situation exposes them to overtures from clubs, with Barcelona keen on taking advantage by launching a summer move.
The 2018-19 campaign was a bit of a mixed bag for Rashford as he blew hot and cold over the course of the season, ultimately finishing with a tally of 13 goals and 9 assists from 47 matches in all competitions. But, given that he is central to Solskjaer’s plans moving forward, Manchester United need to get his contract situation resolved at the earliest possible.
