It's beginning to feel like Marcus Rashford's 20-year association with Manchester United is coming to an end.
The England forward told journalist Henry Winter that he feels "ready for a new challenge" not long after being omitted from the matchday squad for the 2-1 derby victory over Premier League champions Manchester City, and he hasn't been involved in the first team since.
Rashford has struggled badly for form since his career-best season in 2022/23, when he scored 30 goals in 56 games in all competitions for the club he joined as a seven-year-old.
There has been criticism of his performances and application in matches, while his dedication to the sport has been questioned amid some disciplinary problems off the field. The player himself has often looked as though he is playing the weight of the world on his shoulders.
All told, it may be that a clean break between United and Rashford could be the best option for all parties.
Where he might end up, on the other hand, is a more difficult question to answer.
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Rashford/United situation latest
The Guardian's Jamie Jackson reports that United head coach Ruben Amorim has complete freedom and the blessing of the club board to leave Rashford out of squads until his situation is resolved.
Amorim's squad selections and their distinct lack of Rashford are, according to Jackson, not a result of any pressure or influence from above, and serve as the latest sign that the striker will surely be at a new club by February.
The question now is where will he go?
Why does Marcus Rashford want to leave Man United?
Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were dropped from the dramatic derby win over Man City in December after Amorim suggested the players were not meeting the required standards, and it's not certain when his next chance in the side will come.
Having already lost his England place, finding himself on the fringes at club level could well force the player into seeking pastures new, particularly when there is no obvious role for him in Amorim's 3-4-3 system.
United would likely sanction his departure should they be able to earn a decent profit.
The player who struck 30 goals two seasons ago to earn a massive new contract has since struggled with off-field indiscretions and niggling injuries, which have led to form best described as patchy.
Earlier this year, Rashford was spoken to directly by senior club officials after being pictured at a Belfast nightclub the night before reporting ill prior to an FA Cup game at Newport County, having twice before incurred the wrath of former manager Erik ten Hag for oversleeping before a team meeting and visiting a nightclub after United lost to Man City.
Rashford turned 27 in October and should be entering the prime of his career, yet the player United once looked likely to build their attack around now looked an awkward fit in the first team.
There would be sadness at his departure, but it increasingly looks like the sensible option.
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Possible next clubs for Marcus Rashford
Finding a new club for Rashford could be easier said than done. Here are a few possible landing spots.
Arsenal
Arsenal have been mentioned almost in passing as a possible option given their lack of a goal-scoring centre-forward, but that very sentence is a paradox.
Rashford has never been a consistent goal-scorer — he's broken the 20-goal mark in just three seasons in senior football — and he very rarely looks comfortable as a No. 9.
You could understand the Gunners making enquiries over a possible loan, for instance, but a permanent transfer feels very unlikely.
There's also the complication of whether Rashford, who has spent his entire football career as man and boy at Old Trafford, could countenance playing for another English side.
Barcelona
Fabrizio Romano has previously said Rashford's preference would be to move to Spain.
Real Madrid are pretty much off the table — Rashford is not going to usurp Vinicius Junior or Kylian Mbappe in their attack — and he would need to take a massive pay cut to join the vast majority of other La Liga teams.
That leaves Barcelona as his best option.
The Catalans would potentially be interested. Robert Lewandowski will be 37 next August, and Raphinha has been linked with a possible Premier League return, so there could be space in the lineup for Rashford.
That said, Barca's perpetual state of financial uncertainty means any move for the United man would almost certainly depend on them selling one or two established stars.
Paris Saint-Germain
PSG have often been mentioned in conversations around Rashford's future. He was touted as a possible replacement for Kylian Mbappe even before the France star moved to Madrid, and head coach Luis Enrique is said to be a big fan.
The Qatari-backed Ligue 1 champions would certainly have little problem paying his transfer fee and wages, but with a stacked forward line comprising Goncalo Ramos, Ousmane Dembele, Marco Asensio, Desire Doue, Randal Kolo Muani, Bradley Barcola and 16-year-old talent Ibrahim Mbaye, do they really need him?
Saudi Arabia
Clubs from the lucrative Saudi Pro League would have the financial clout to make the move happen, and there is a possible landing spot opening up at champions Al Hilal.
It is expected that Neymar will move on in 2025 after desperate misfortune with injuries, and Rashford would represent an ideal replacement. However, it feels like a long shot for Rashford to make this move at this point in his career, not least as it could jeopardise his chances of getting back into the England squad before the 2026 World Cup.
Marcus Rashford contract, salary
Rashford signed a new five-year deal at the end of his outstanding 2022/23 season. That contract, which expires in 2028, earns him a wage of approximately £325,000 ($413,000) per week.
At the time, there was little argument against the contract — if they didn't extend, United were at risk of losing their best performer for free within 12 months — and the player himself had earned the right to become one of the club's top earners.
His form since then means that contract has become an obstacle when it comes to trying to move him on. Few, if any, clubs would be prepared to match his salary, and many others would be unable or unwilling to pay the sort of transfer fee United would like for a player with over three years left on their contract.
