French champions Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly decided whether they will firm up their interest in signing Marcus Rashford from Manchester United.
The unsettled England international was tipped to leave Old Trafford in the summer of 2022 following a troubled season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, but Erik ten Hag implored him to stay.
The Dutchman's decision was vindicated, as Rashford reignited his Man United career last season with 30 goals in all competitions - 17 of which came in the Premier League - to help the Red Devils return to the Champions League and win the EFL Cup.
The 26-year-old's numbers have regressed in 2023-24, though, and while eight goals and five assists in 39 games is not a disastrous tally, he has failed to live up to expectations after his brilliant 2022-23 campaign.
Rashford also made headlines for an off-field misdemeanour last year, visiting a Dublin nightclub and subsequently reporting ill for training, and any demotions from the first XI are always met with intense questioning.
© Reuters
PSG rule out Rashford move
The events of the last few months have led to speculation surrounding Rashford's future heating up again, and it had been suggested that Paris Saint-Germain are finally set to step up their long-standing interest.
The Ligue 1 champions will lose Kylian Mbappe in the summer ahead of his anticipated Real Madrid switch, but they would have to pay a premium if they want Rashford to step into the Frenchman's boots.
A recent report claimed that the Red Devils would want a club-record £100m to let Rashford leave, having tied the 26-year-old down to a new contract until the summer of 2028 at the end of last season.
Such a fee would trump the £80m that Man United made through the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid in 2009, and financial powerhouses PSG would have no problem coughing up a nine-figure proposal.
However, according to The Sun, Luis Enrique's side have no intention of making a move for Rashford in the summer transfer window, and the Parisiens have never held an interest in signing the England international.
Rashford's future belongs at Man United
© Reuters
Instead, PSG supposedly believe that any talk of a swoop last summer was simply used as a bargaining chip in Rashford's contract talks with Man United, who are paying him approximately £325,000 a week.
The striker's issues off the pitch and on-field struggles - including his perceived lack of work rate - have convinced PSG that he is not the right Mbappe replacement for them, and Rashford is instead set to remain at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future.
Since coming through Man United's academy with flying colours, the 26-year-old has banked 131 goals and 64 assists in 398 games for the Red Devils, and he played the full 90 in the weekend's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
Rashford failed to have an impact on the four-goal stalemate, though, as Bruno Fernandes's brace rescued a point for the Red Devils, who are now winless in four straight top-flight affairs.
Sitting seventh in the Premier League table, Ten Hag's men now turn their attention back to the hunt for silverware, meeting Coventry City in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.
Ben Knapton
