Manchester United fans may be relieved to see their side beat Aston Villa in last weekend's FA Cup, but one thing will deeply unsettle them. Throughout the game, Old Trafford's side looked far from their best, but there was one player who looked worst: Marcus Rashford. Whether it's sloppy possession, a slow move into the penalty area or a complete lack of interest in playing, the England international's performance at Manchester United dwarfs his former self. Worryingly, he has been in this state for quite some time. Despite being the club's academy leader and a fan favourite, it may be time for United to consider cashing out with the 24-year-old talent.
Few would overlook Rashford's injuries since joining United's first team in 2015-16, but the club's fans should be worried about the player's current performance at Old Trafford. After an impressive breakout season of 15-16, Marcus Rashford appears to have improved in every passing season and appears to have reached his peak in 2019-20, when the England striker averaged 0.73 goals per game. Last season, however, he scored 21 goals and 15 assists in 57 games, dropping that number to an average of 0.58 per game. This season, the player has scored just three goals and one assist, averaging 0.42 per game. Marcus Rashford is certainly not a bad player, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to prove that he deserves to be United's starter.
Rashford's current contract with Manchester United expires in June 2023, meaning he now has less than 18 months left on his £200,000-a-week contract. What will happen after that is still up for debate. According to British media reports, the club is increasingly concerned about Rashford's lack of progress in recent years and how the striker has stagnated under successive managers. So selling the player in the January window – especially given his worth as much as €77 million – could make more sense than getting him into the summer window and into the final year of his contract. In other words, if Man Lenovo profits from their academy gems, now may be the best time.