Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick says no decision has been made over Marcus Rashford’s future at Old Trafford.
The 28-year-old forward has spent the season on loan at Barcelona following a six-month spell at Aston Villa last season.
Rashford’s career at Old Trafford was put on hold last season after a supposed falling out with former United boss Ruben Amorim. Rashford’s loan deal at the Spotify Camp Nou includes a £26m option to buy clause.
However, amid reports Barcelona are hesitant to make the deal permanent at that price, when asked if the door should be left open for Rashford to play for United again, Carrick did nothing to shut down that possibility.
“There are decisions to be made in time on certain things. Marcus is in that situation,” Carrick said.
“At this point in time, nothing has been decided. It will be at a certain point because it has to be, but at this stage nothing has been decided.”
Rashford has scored 12 goals and assisted another 13 in 43 appearances for Barcelona but has come under scrutiny for a recent patchy spell for the LaLiga leaders.
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Marcus Rashford scores equaliser for Barcelona against Atletico Madrid after slick one-two in LaLiga.
The England international was dropped for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final defeat to Atletico Madrid after an underwhelming performance in the first.
Sky Sports News have reported that despite Barcelona’s indecision over Rashford’s option to buy clause, United will not renegotiate a fee with the Spanish club.
United are confident they could receive a higher fee elsewhere should Barcelona refuse the previously agreed terms. There is no reunion expected to take place at Old Trafford.
Also asked whether United will strengthen at left-wing specifically, Carrick revealed there have been conversations rgarding recruitment. Sky Sports revealed last month that United are keen to bolster options ahead of a likely return to Europe next season.
Sky Sports News revealed last month that RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande is high on United’s list of left-wing targets ahead of this summer’s transfer window, while Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye is another player United are monitoring. Carrick suggests there will be a time and place for concrete talks to take place.
“There are decisions to be made, of course, but also timings are a thing” Carrick said.
“Obviously, my situation is one thing, it’s just working through that. There’s certainly conversations to come because it’s natural but in terms of an actual ‘this is going to happen’, that’s not something I’ve commited to, recruitment-wise, but we’ve certainly had conversations. That’s just natural.”
