Rashford's Old Trafford future bleak as United weigh midfield and striker options

Manchester United have agreed an initial £35 million fee with Atalanta for midfielder Ederson, with a further £3.8 million in potential add-ons, making him effectively the club’s first signing of the summer. The deal addresses a pressing need in central midfield, though United are expected to pursue further reinforcements across the squad while also managing a number of departures.

Marcus Rashford’s prospects of returning to Old Trafford appear remote. Barcelona hold an option to sign the winger permanently for £26 million, but that deadline falls on 15 June and the Spanish club are not expected to activate it. That leaves United in a difficult position: Barcelona may still want Rashford back on loan, but only on terms that would require them to cover the vast majority of his £325,000-a-week salary — a condition United would need to find acceptable.

If Rashford performs well at the World Cup, clubs such as Bayern Munich and Arsenal — both of whom are seeking a left-winger — could enter the picture. United themselves are in the market for a wide attacker, but Rashford is not part of those plans. The decision to remove him from the first-team squad was described as a club-led call, not one driven by manager Rúben Amorim.

In midfield, United are monitoring Elliot Anderson of Newcastle United, though Manchester City currently lead that pursuit and the Etihad is said to be Anderson’s preferred destination. Should City’s interest cool, United could re-enter the race. Anderson is viewed as a natural replacement for Casemiro in the holding role, while Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers — seen as a future No.10 — represents a different profile entirely. United are understood to admire Rogers, though competition for his signature is fierce.

Sandro Tonali, also of Newcastle, has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, though little concrete information has emerged about his future. His situation is one to monitor as the window develops.

United’s summer business is shaping up to involve multiple positions, with midfield the immediate priority following the Ederson agreement. The club’s approach under the current regime suggests a focus on squad culture and wage discipline — factors that appear to be driving several of the decisions around outgoing players as much as incoming ones.