Man Utd want to sign “one of the best players in the world”

The buzz is growing about a return to Manchester United for Marcus Rashford, but is this the best move for either side?

The expectation was that after a season on loan at Barcelona, ​​the 28-year-old would get his wish and stay in Catalonia permanently, especially as the LaLiga giants boasted a minimum purchase option of €30m (£25m).

Alas, the deadline to trigger that clause has since come and gone, with Rashford forced to watch England team-mate Anthony Gordon solidify his dream move to Camp Nou instead in a massive £69m deal.

The two men are also battling to start at the World Cup stage, yet despite some good times, Wednesday’s win against DR Congo was a real setback for United, with Gordon changing the game from the bench.

It felt like he was watching Rashford who worked hard in his final days at Old Trafford, suggesting that INEOS would be wise to look elsewhere for a left-back solution.

Why Rashford is coming back could be a mistake for Man Utd

Talk of reuniting the exiled star has not come out of the blue, as reports earlier this year indicated a return could be on the cards, amid Barca’s reluctance to strike a permanent deal.

With Rashford’s former team-mate Michael Carrick now in charge, the possibility of a return home has been strengthened, even if it is the same INEOS regime that backed Ruben Amorim’s decision to dump him more than 18 months ago.

Perhaps the management of Old Trafford learned a lesson last year, using the so-called ‘bomb squad’ which is not exactly the best negotiating tool, with interested clubs able to make a low-ball offer for the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Antony.

The idea of ​​bringing Rashford back into the side could be a bargaining ploy, although if not, that could mark something of a mistake, given the world view that this was the end of his time in Manchester.

He did not manage 28 goals and an assist for Catalonia last season in all competitions, although most of that output came from the bench, having scored as a substitute in England’s opening game against Croatia.

In his second start in a row against DR Congo, ‘Rashy’ received little change from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who boasts 100% accuracy but does not provide important passes and does not have successful crosses.

While Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice rose to the occasion, Rashford was among those who seemed to be on the wane, not taking the chance Thomas Tuchel gave him.

That should have alarm bells ringing back in Manchester, with improvements still needed in the sides.

Man Utd could sign “one of the best players in the world”

The priority is still the midfield unit, although that hasn’t stopped speculation about possible attacking reinforcements this summer.

Indeed, according to reports in Spain, United are believed to be one of the best placed teams to sign Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior if he leaves the Bernabeu this summer.

The 25-year-old has just one year left on his contract with Los Blancos, with no progress being made on signing an extension yet.

If he is to leave the Spanish capital, the suggestion is that there are only five teams who have a ‘realistic’ chance of signing him, with United joined by Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

His contractual status will ensure that the transfer fee could be as much as €90m (£78m), which would be “one of the best players in the world”, according to Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti.

At a time when there is still noise for Neymar to take over from these five-time World Cup winners, it is Vini Jr who is currently front and center, having scored four goals in this tournament so far.

As he showed in the opening game against Morocco, give him an inch and he will take it, boasting a devastating combination of incredible pace and elite finishing ability.

Even after a difficult year in Madrid, this is still a player at the peak of his powers, a real joy to watch who can win a match on his own.

In total, he scored and assisted 21 goals in LaLiga last term, before Rashford returned with 15, scoring once every 177 minutes, while the Englishman scored once every 220 minutes.

Rashford came out on top in terms of chances created (eight against seven), although Vini Jr bettered his Barcelona counterpart in terms of key passes per game (1.9 vs 1.4), as well as enjoying the highest record in terms of completed dribbles (2.4 vs 0.9).

That last record is particularly dangerous, as Rashford seems unable or unwilling to blow past opponents, instead often cutting inside to deliver a cross into the box.

The Brazilian, on the other hand, harasses opposition defenders, so he has the ability to get into the penalty area to wreak havoc on that left field.

Whether United’s real deal is real remains to be seen, but this is the cream of the crop and the type of signing that could take the Red Devils to a new level.

In Rashford’s case, there is a sense of ‘that’s been done’ that cannot be shaken.