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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Dan Marsh

Marcus Rashford delays Man Utd contract decision amid new 'Cristiano Ronaldo rule'

Marcus Rashford is ready to wait for the Manchester United takeover saga to conclude before putting pen to paper on a new long-term contract with the club.

Rashford, 25, is currently enjoying a renaissance under the guidance of Erik ten Hag and is already on course for his best ever goalscoring season after plundering 27 goals in 44 games this term.

The current Old Trafford hierarchy are desperate to tie the England forward down to fresh terms as Rashford will have just 12 months remaining on his deal at the end of the current campaign. However, Rashford is ready to hold fire on talks over a new contract until the club's long-term future becomes clearer.

According to The Sun, Rashford and his advisors wants to know what any of United's prospective new owners would be willing to pay the Red Devils academy graduate before making any concrete decisions over his long-term future.

INEOS chief and boyhood Manchester United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani are widely considered to be the two frontrunners in the race to acquire the club from the Glazer family, who are currently entertaining takeover bids.

Although Rashford is ready to bide his time, it remains to be seen if the club would be willing to offer him more than the £300,000 that the report claims has already been tabled - a figure that is significantly higher than his current £200,000-a-week deal.

Earlier this year, reports revealed that Ten Hag, United chief executive Richard Arnold and director of football John Murtough had devised a new 'Cristiano Ronaldo' rule following the Portuguese superstar's exit.

Join the debate! Do you think Rashford will sign a new deal with Man Utd? Let us know here.

Manchester United have been trying to implement a wage cap since offloading Cristiano Ronaldo last year (AFP via Getty Images)

The rule, which is effectively a salary cap, was devised in a bid to deter any dressing room unrest when it comes to wages. It is believed that Ronaldo pocketed around £480,000 a week at Old Trafford before he agreed to terminate his deal during the World Cup.

If United and Rashford are unable to come to terms on a new contract - either during or after the ongoing takeover process - then the Red Devils will be vulnerable to losing their new talisman, who has no shortage of admirers across Europe.

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez is known to be a big fan of Rashford, who has also been extensively linked to Paris Saint-Germain in the past.

As things stand, Rashford would be free to negotiate with clubs from overseas once he enters the final six months of his contract and would be able to leave Manchester United for free if no agreement is struck between now and next summer.

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