The Manchester United hierarchy are desperate for Marcus Rashford to stay at Old Trafford despite his relationship with the club growing increasingly strained, according to reports.
Rashford, 24, has endured a challenging season since returning from shoulder surgery and he has scored just five times in 27 appearances. This poor form has seen the England international fall down Ralf Rangnick 's pecking order and he has started just one of United's last six Premier League games.
His relationship with the interim manager reached rock bottom when he was left out of the starting line-up for last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Leicester despite being the only striker available. In the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani, Rangnick chose to deploy Bruno Fernandes as a false-nine as the Red Devils laboured to a somewhat fortuitous point.
Rashford has considered leaving United - whom he joined aged seven - in the wake of this snub as Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona keep close tabs on his situation, The Sun reports. However, club chiefs are said to have emphasised they still see the player as a part of their future with a new manager soon taking over.
Erik ten Hag is expected to be unveiled as the next permanent boss at the end of the season and the prospect of working under a new coach could convince Rashford to stay. The report adds every candidate interviewed for the role was told the academy graduate should not be allowed to depart.
Rashford is out of contract in just over one year's time but there is the option to extend his deal for another season. There remains plenty of uncertainty surrounding United's attack ahead of a transformative summer.
Is Marcus Rashford good enough to start for Manchester United week in, week out? Have your say in the comments...
Ten Hag is set to receive significant financial backing when he is appointed and signing a new centre-forward - as well as two central midfielders - is the priority when the window opens. Tottenham frontman Harry Kane is on the Red Devils' radar and he is enjoying a typically-prolific season, albeit after a slow start in the league.
The Three Lions captain, 28, has plundered 22 goals in all competitions including seven in his last eight top-flight appearances. Elsewhere, Benfica ace Darwin Nunez is also a target amid his 28-goal season for the Portuguese giants.
The 22-year-old was on the scoresheet in Tuesday night's 3-1 defeat by Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. United were reportedly among the many clubs from the Premier League and across Europe to send scouts to watch Nunez in action against the Reds.
