Marcus Rashford's Man Utd future in doubt as £70m Ndiaye chase signals end

Manchester United have effectively drawn a line under Marcus Rashford's time at Old Trafford, with the club's aggressive pursuit of Iliman Ndiaye confirming the England winger is no longer seen as a key part of the project. While Rashford is still expected to report for pre-season under Michael Carrick after his post-World Cup break, United's actions in the transfer market suggest they view his continued presence as a fallback rather than a priority. His hefty wages - which reportedly persuaded Barcelona not to trigger a €30 million permanent option on his loan - are now the main obstacle to finding a buyer. Rashford is reluctant to move to the Saudi Pro League despite interest, preferring to stay in European top-tier football. Roma and Tottenham are both understood to be monitoring the situation, but no club has yet matched United's valuation or the player's salary demands. Meanwhile, United have identified Everton attacker Iliman Ndiaye as their prime target to fill the left-wing role. According to The media, a £70 million tug-of-war is developing between the Red Devils and Saudi club Al-Hilal for the Senegal international. Ndiaye, 26, is versatile but is being recruited specifically to play on the left - an area United describe as a "priority" in the window. That admission underlines how far Rashford has fallen in the club's plans. Former United defender Paul Parker did not mince words when assessing Rashford's situation. "The biggest thing is, how can he ever be trusted by his team-mates again?" Parker said. "He wasn't doing his job properly but everyone allowed him to do it and now they have figured him out. Back in my time you would have been grabbed by one of the senior players and they would do something to you which you wouldn't find very funny." Parker added that Barcelona's decision to spend more on Anthony Gordon rather than keep Rashford should be a source of embarrassment. "He has been given this small chance to come back again and honestly he has only been given this chance because of the fact that Barcelona didn't want him." Rashford may still wear a United shirt next season simply because he has two years left on his contract. But the club's transfer activity makes it clear they believe cheaper, more effective options exist elsewhere.