Marcus Rashford put on chopping block as Man Utd draw up exciting transfer plan

Marcus Rashford may fear that his Manchester United career is in major jeopardy, with the club’s new decision-makers INEOS reportedly monitoring Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze over a potential blockbuster 2025 summer transfer.

Having been left out of the England squad again under Lee Carsley, Rashford has watched his competition in wide areas Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo impress to begin the new season, while the 26-year-old is without a goal or an assist in his opening three games.

To make matters worse for Rashford, the Manchester Evening News claim that INEOS are looking to reinforce the Red Devils’ attacking options. Eze is among the targets being followed and has a £68million release clause that United can activate next year.

Eze has predominantly played as an attacking midfielder or on the left and with captain Bruno Fernandes recently signing a new contract at Old Trafford, Eze is unlikely to replace the Portuguese playmaker in a central position.

A midfield pivot alongside Kobbie Mainoo would be seriously unbalanced, leaving Eze’s only realistic option to fit into the team on the left flank. United would unlikely shell out such a large amount of money for a player who is not in the first-team picture.

Rashford has been hard at work on the training pitch during the international break in a bid to salvage his United career, but the stark warning of Eze’s potential arrival will undoubtedly be a cause for concern.

United’s provisional plan for next summer is thought to be a winger such as Eze, joined by a defender and a midfielder. Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui bolstered those areas in the previous window but Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co have identified the need for more help.

At centre-back, United are expected to continue tracking Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite after baulking at the Toffees’ valuation in the summer, before attention was turned to Yoro and De Ligt.

Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are all expected to depart at the end of the season when their contracts expire, if buyers cannot be found in January, while the futures of Harry Maguire and Casemiro remain unclear.

A left-back is also likely to be targeted with fitness worries over both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, as Diogo Dalot has deputised in that position to begin the season. Fulham’s Antonee Robinson was linked with a move to Old Trafford earlier this month.

But for Rashford, he will be wary that United’s chiefs want to sign another winger alongside the continued emergence of Garnacho and Amad as starting options, during what could be a career-defining season.