Marcus Rashford's future is no longer just an exit story for Manchester United. He still has two years left on his £325,000-a-week contract, and the club have not found a permanent transfer that suits both their valuation and his wages. That is already slowing other business, with Iliman Ndiaye the clearest example.

Rashford's contract has boxed United in

Rashford's best market case is still tied to the 2022-23 season, when he scored 30 goals and added 12 assists in 56 appearances. That run justified the wage rise from £200,000-a-week to £325,000-a-week, but it also left United stuck with a salary level that is hard to move on. If a club will not match the package, the exit becomes much narrower.

United's problem is not just that Rashford is available. It is that nobody has yet offered a permanent route that works for all sides. The market has been messy enough that interest in Ndiaye has been held up, and Fabrizio Romano put it bluntly: "Another player appreciated by Man Utd is Iliman Ndiaye at Everton. He is another player they like, but they are not progressing because of the Rashford situation."

Ndiaye is the clearest casualty

Romano's line is the most direct sign of where this stands. United like Ndiaye, but they are not moving. Everton's reported £70 million valuation only makes the delay more obvious, because United cannot sensibly chase another expensive target while Rashford's future is still unresolved.

There is a version of this story where Rashford ends up back in the picture at Old Trafford. He was even invited to appear in the club's Amazon documentary covering the 2026-27 campaign, which suggests the door has not been shut completely. Rashford has also said, "If you ever question my commitment to Man United, that's when I have to speak up. It's like somebody questioning my entire identity, and everything I stand for as a man. I grew up here. I have played for this club since I was a boy. My family turned down life-changing money when I was a kid so I could wear this badge."

But the market is the market. Until United solve the Rashford problem, they are not just dealing with one unhappy forward. They are holding up the rest of their summer too.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →