Rashford signals United commitment as Arsenal and Chelsea links persist before deadline

Marcus Rashford has made clear he is focused on Manchester United’s upcoming match against Ipswich Town, posting “Old Trafford Next” on Instagram as the transfer deadline approaches and rumours of late moves from Arsenal and Chelsea continue to circulate.

The 28-year-old returned to United this summer after Barcelona opted not to trigger the purchase option in his loan deal. Rather than departing permanently as had been widely expected, Rashford was welcomed back into the squad by manager Michael Carrick and came off the bench in the club’s opening defeat to Hull City.

Rashford’s last competitive appearance at Old Trafford came in December 2024, when he was a substitute in a 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest under then-manager Ruben Amorim. His reintegration this season followed clear-the-air talks with the club’s hierarchy, and he remains under contract until 2028. He has also been handed the No. 9 shirt for the new campaign.

Carrick has been openly encouraged by what he has seen from Rashford in pre-season and early training. “It’s been pretty obvious since Marcus came back training with Kobbie [Mainoo] and Licha [Martinez] pretty much in Dublin that he’s come back fantastically well,” the manager said. “He’s enjoying his football, he looks fit, he looks sharp, he looks strong, he looks ready to play football. So I’ve been delighted with him since he’s came back.”

Carrick also addressed Rashford’s positional flexibility, noting that leading the frontline is not necessarily his primary role but that the squad’s attacking options allow for versatility across the forward line. With Benjamin Sesko currently United’s only specialist centre-forward, Rashford’s ability to operate centrally or on the left flank adds useful depth to Carrick’s attacking options.

Whether Rashford starts against Ipswich or again comes off the bench, his public message ahead of the fixture suggests his mind is on United rather than on a potential exit before the window shuts.