Marcus Rashford U-turn, Sandro Tonali theory, midfield nightmare – Man United transfer questions answered

We run weekly question and answer sessions, so click here to submit your questions, and we’ll answer them next week. Here are the answers to some of this week’s questions:

Is it a good idea to forget the past and bring Marcus Rashford back to offer more depth next season?

From a purely footballing point of view, I think it probably is. Rashford scored 14 goals and got 14 assists for Barcelona and it’s worth remembering he’s on such a big contract at United is because he scored 30 goals in 2022/23.

There is obviously baggage to consider, but United need strength in depth on the left and Rashford offers that. He is also a different kind of winger to Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu.

Rashford can also play through the middle and play back-up to Benjamin Sesko, so in terms of football, it makes sense.

Could Marcus Rashford be reintegrated into the first team and take a reduced salary?

This isn’t going to happen. Rashford has two years left to run on a contract worth around £325,000 a week, and to reduce his salary, he would need to sign a new deal. Why would he do that?

The wage issue shouldn’t be overlooked. United have worked hard to reduce their wage bill in the last couple of years and they have tried to create a more balanced salary structure in the first team squad.

Rashford’s return clearly upsets that and it could lead to other players, particularly those being picked ahead of him, to seek new contracts of their own that get closer to his salary.

Is this going to be a disastrous transfer window now Tottenham have signed Mateus Fernandes?

That’s not the view inside Old Trafford. Obviously, the window hasn’t started particularly well, and losing out to Fernandes, having seen Anderson go to Manchester City, is a big blow.

But they have other targets in midfield and for all that they wanted Fernandes, they didn’t view him as an £85million player. He isn’t the finished article, and I don’t think he would necessarily have transformed United next season.

What they need to do is make sure they get the next deal right. There are other names on their shortlist that the data looks good on, and players whom United believe can improve their team. If they get a big signing over the line, the narrative around the window changes.

I think we need two more centre-backs, are there plans to sign any this summer?

No, is the short answer. United have five centre-backs on their books in Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven. I know there are fitness concerns around some, but adding a sixth and a seventh makes no sense.

All bar De Ligt are currently fit and should be fit for the start of the season, with the Dutchman due to return in the first few weeks of the new campaign. He expects that to be the end of his back issues.

I think De Ligt and Martinez need a season where they prove their fitness, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see departures here next summer. Maguire and Martinez are both out of contract in 12 months.

Having focused on forwards in 2025 and midfielders now, I can see the defence being a major focus next summer, but I’d be shocked if a new centre-back came in this year.

Missing out on Tonali isn’t a good thing to hear as a United fan. His quality is what we need in the team and the cost shouldn’t have been an issue. Thoughts?

Tonali was on a long list of potential targets this summer but the reality is United didn’t miss out on him. They never made any kind of concrete move for him and didn’t rival Tottenham for his signature.

There is a lot of admiration for Tonali, but I think there are two concerns here. Ultimately, he wants to go back to Italy, but that route is blocked due to the fact no Serie A club can afford him. Is his heart really in it in the Premier League? Then there are his previous gambling issues, which appear to be over, but would clearly be a potential red flag.

United liked him as a player, and I don’t know exactly why they didn’t make any kind of offer, but there is no disappointment at Old Trafford in missing out on him.

What is going on this summer? We missed out on our top targets but there are still a lot of quality players like Carlos Baleba, Mamadou Sangaré, Angelo Stiller. The recruitment team should act fast and get them before they are picked up by other clubs.

There is work going on to sign a midfielder, and probably two more. I’ve not heard the names of Sangare and Stiller mentioned to me this summer, so don’t see them as top targets at the moment.

In terms of the next midfield target, Alex Scott feels the most likely at the moment, although we were of course saying that about Fernandes two weeks ago. The fact Arsenal also want Scott is a worry.

There are two months left of the transfer window, however. It’s not started brilliantly, but there are lots of excellent players still out there and plenty of time to get things right. Remember that Casemiro didn’t sign in 2022 until late in August, and that worked out just fine.

Why’s Kobbie Mainoo not playing at the World Cup?

You appear to have confused me with Thomas Tuchel. I’ve no idea why he hasn’t played. I can see why Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are the first-choice midfield, I actually think it’s a good partnership, but I’m stunned that Jude Bellingham was dropped into a deeper role against Panama, rather than giving Mainoo a game, and that Reece James moved into midfield during the win against Croatia.

I actually don’t mind taking Jordan Henderson. You need leaders in these squads and whatever you think of Henderson as a player, he is definitely a leader. If his being there is good for Jude Bellingham, then it makes sense to me. But I think it’s pretty clear Mainoo is now a better player than Henderson and should be getting game time ahead of him.

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