Everton eye Rashford loan but wages and ambition pose significant hurdles

Everton are targeting Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford for a January loan move, according to reports, though his substantial wages and personal ambitions threaten to derail any potential deal.

Rashford, 28, has found himself on the fringes at Old Trafford again this season, making just one Premier League appearance since the international break — a fifth-minute-of-stoppage-time cameo against Tottenham Hotspur. He was an unused substitute against Leeds United and was left out of the squad entirely for last weekend’s defeat to Bournemouth due to a minor injury not expected to sideline him for long.

The England international’s situation has alerted interested clubs, with Everton understood to be keen on bringing him to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the remainder of the campaign. Manchester United are said to be open to the idea, with the club’s hierarchy exploring options to help Rashford regain fitness and form after a difficult return to the squad.

“Rashford has struggled for form and minutes since returning from his successful loan at Barcelona, prompting the Old Trafford hierarchy to explore opportunities to potentially move him on again this winter,” TEAMtalk reported. “However, significant hurdles remain. His substantial wages — including a base salary of around £325,000 per week — would represent a major commitment for a club currently up for sale, even if United were willing to cover a portion as part of a loan.”

Rashford’s own preferences add another layer of complexity. He has long expressed a desire to remain at one of Europe’s top clubs, making a move to a mid-table Premier League side a harder sell, regardless of United’s willingness to facilitate a departure.

The forward’s two previous loan spells, however, were both considered successes. At Aston Villa in January 2025, he played a key role as Unai Emery’s side reached the FA Cup semi-final and the Champions League quarter-final. He then joined Barcelona for the entirety of last season, making 32 league appearances, scoring eight goals in La Liga and five more in the Champions League under Hansi Flick — and collecting his first league title as the Catalans won La Liga.

Rashford’s relationship with United soured under former head coach Ruben Amorim, whose public criticism of the forward’s work ethic prompted the January 2025 loan to Villa. Amorim was sacked and replaced by Michael Carrick, but Rashford’s playing time has again dwindled in recent weeks, leaving his long-term future at the club unresolved.