Newcastle United have been urged to steer clear of Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford this summer, with former England international Chris Waddle branding the forward “inconsistent” and warning his wage demands would blow a hole in the Magpies’ budget.
Waddle’s Verdict on Rashford
Speaking to OLBG, Waddle said: “I think Marcus Rashford would be out of Newcastle’s price bracket with his big wage demands. He hasn’t performed well at the World Cup and has always been an inconsistent footballer. We know he is a good player, we saw him on fire for Manchester United the season before he left, but he's always been inconsistent.”
Rashford, 28, returned to Manchester United after a successful loan spell at Barcelona last season, but the Old Trafford club are open to offers. Barca, who signed Anthony Gordon from Newcastle, are unlikely to make Rashford’s move permanent, while Newcastle have already added Ivory Coast youngster Bazoumana Toure to their squad.
Financial Hurdles
While a £30 million transfer fee is within Newcastle’s reach, Waddle believes the player’s wage demands would be prohibitive. “While the £30m price tag is accessible, his wage demands would be massive, so I don't think Newcastle will go down that path,” he added.
Rashford scored twice for Barcelona in a 2-1 Champions League win over Newcastle at St James’ Park last season. However, he only featured for the final minutes of the 1-1 draw in the knockout stages and did not appear in the second leg at the Nou Camp.
Newcastle’s Transfer Priorities
Newcastle have been linked with several creative players this summer, but Waddle’s comments suggest the club should focus elsewhere. The Magpies have already strengthened their attack with Toure and may look for more consistent options to support their Champions League ambitions.
