Marcus Rashford and Erik ten Hag could soon reunite, with both players possibly coming together at Borussia Dortmund in January.
Following his exclusion from the Manchester United squad under Ruben Amorim, Rashford admitted he’s ‘ready for a new challenge,’ leading to widespread speculation about his next move.
While AC Milan had been seen as the frontrunners, the club’s limit of one English player this transfer window has led them to shift focus to Manchester City’s Kyle Walker.
Now, Borussia Dortmund leads the race to secure Rashford on loan, with AS Monaco as their closest rivals. The 27-year-old forward may find the German side an ideal place to regain his form, similar to Jadon Sancho’s revival after a loan spell at Dortmund.
However, Rashford’s move could bring him face-to-face with a familiar figure. Sky Sports Germany reports that Dortmund are close to firing manager Nuri Sahin, who has seen the team struggle in 10th place in the Bundesliga.
This could set the stage for Ten Hag’s return, as the Dutch manager, who was recently spotted at Dortmund’s headquarters, is a strong candidate to replace Sahin.
Although Dortmund is considering Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß, Ten Hag is ready to take over immediately following his October dismissal from United.
Rashford’s drop in form was a significant factor in United’s recent struggles. After a stellar 2022/23 season, where he scored 30 goals under Ten Hag, Rashford’s performance dipped dramatically, contributing to his strained relationship with the former manager, including an incident when Rashford skipped training to party in Belfast. Despite the drama, Ten Hag had been a key figure in Rashford’s career revival.
With United’s recent 3-1 loss to Brighton, Amorim was asked about Rashford’s future and commented, “It is his choice not to play,” adding that the player’s absence shouldn’t be blamed for the club’s struggles.