Marcus Rashford's second coming at Manchester United is already heading for the exit door. Everton have opened talks over a January move for the 28-year-old forward, according to reports, and Tottenham are now said to be monitoring a player who has not registered a single goal or assist since returning to Old Trafford in the summer.
It was meant to be a fresh start. Rashford came home after a loan season at Barcelona that brought 14 goals in 49 matches and a La Liga title, only for the Catalan club to decide against making the move permanent for a fee of around £26 million. Back at United, he has been used mainly from the left wing, but eight appearances this season have produced no goal and no assist, and the conversation has quickly turned from revival to resale.
Everton make the first move
According to Sports Mole, reporting the claims of Football Transfers journalist Steve Kay, Everton have already held preliminary discussions with United over a possible winter deal. Whether that would be a permanent transfer or a loan with a permanent element is still unclear, and the talks are described as being at an early stage with no guarantee of success.
The Merseyside logic is easy to follow. Everton, currently 11th in the Premier League, tried and failed to land Folarin Balogun on the final day of the summer window and have been left relying on the young Thierno Barry as their only recognised centre-forward. Rashford is not a natural number nine, but he can play across the whole front line, and Everton have recent proof that a change of scenery can work: Jack Grealish has been revived there in a comparable situation. David Moyes' side are also in the market at the other end of the pitch, with United themselves chasing Everton defender Branthwaite — a subplot that could yet make January negotiations between the two clubs very interesting.
Spurs enter the picture as the price drops
Everton may not have the field to themselves. Further reports on Monday claim Tottenham have joined the race, with Newcastle United and Crystal Palace also understood to be keeping tabs on the England international. The same reporting suggests United's asking price has fallen to around £30 million, down from a previous valuation of about £42 million — a drop that reflects both Rashford's quiet start to the season and a contract that, while it runs until June 2028, no longer protects United's position the way it once did.
TEAMtalk adds that United are open to a sale, with Rashford's wages — reported at £325,000 a week — a heavy line on the books of a club in crisis. The forward is also reported to be recovering from a hip problem, another complication any buying club will want cleared up before January. All of this is playing out against the backdrop of a club in turmoil, with United's chiefs at Carrington this week to discuss Michael Carrick's future after the 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth.
So what does it mean?
For United, a January sale would close one of the longest-running sagas in English football and free up serious wages for a rebuild that looks more urgent by the week. For Everton, Rashford would be a statement signing with a clear risk attached: the talent is proven, but he has not produced a decisive moment all season. For Tottenham, his ability to play off either flank or through the middle makes him a flexible option for a squad that has battled injuries all autumn. And for Rashford himself, the choice is stark — in the summer he reportedly refused to consider another Premier League club because Barcelona was the priority. Barcelona have moved on. This time, the Premier League may be the only door open.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Rashford's problem is no longer a lack of chances — it is a lack of takers at the price he once commanded. The drop from £42 million to £30 million tells the story of a career at a crossroads, and Everton's talks are the first real test of whether any club still believes the old Rashford is in there. Our verdict: a January move now looks more likely than not, and a loan with an option to buy is the deal that suits everyone — United shift the wages, Everton limit the risk, and Rashford gets the one thing Old Trafford can no longer give him, a team built to need him. Would you take Rashford at your club in January — and if so, at what price? Tell us in the comments.
