Manchester United have been urged to cut the messing about and table an offer for their dream Marcus Rashford replacement, with former England international Chris Waddle telling the club to move the forward on and bring in a proven star.
Rashford has rejoined his United team-mates after spending last season on loan at Barcelona. A permanent move to the La Liga giants had looked likely, but Barcelona instead opted to pursue England team-mate Anthony Gordon, leaving Rashford searching for his next opportunity while United explore their own options on the wing.
Waddle: Rashford must drop wage demands
Speaking exclusively to Express Sport on behalf of Snabbare, Waddle said: “If Manchester United can get Rashford off their wage bill, they can spend that money on the sort of proven player you would expect such a massive football club to be signing. They could bring someone in on half of Rashford’s wages, because he is on a lot of money, who could improve the team.
“You’d just hope that United have learned their lesson this time but we’ll see. There’s nothing wrong with a big club paying good wages, and United will also pay great wages, but you can’t be paying a daft wage to someone who isn’t worth it, who isn’t a massive asset.”
On the condition needed for a move, Waddle added: "The only way Marcus Rashford is going to get the move that he wants to continue playing football abroad is if he drops his wage demands, because I think clubs would be happy to pay the transfer fee Manchester United want for him.
"It’s about who is going to pay him the wages he’s on at United, because I don’t think for a single moment he wants to go back to playing for United. I think he fell in love with Barcelona, and they turned their back on him, and now his expectations are a massive stumbling block for another move this summer."
Kvaratskhelia touted as ideal signing
Waddle believes United should be ambitious and target a player of the calibre of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He said: “I can see United bringing more players in who better fit the wage structure than signing one player to take the sort of deal that Rashford has got on. At the same time, if you’re Manchester United then you need some top players, and they’ll be searching the world for them just like Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, but at this point they need proven players.
“Could they move Marcus Rashford on and bring in a player like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia? Listen, they have to go and sign those big hitters, and they could be playing for a club sitting 10th in the league, but they’ve got that potential to do it for a club like Manchester United.”
Securing the Georgian would be a coup for the three-time European champions, given his performances for Paris Saint-Germain since joining the French outfit. Such a deal would command an astronomical fee, but if United are serious about returning to the top of English football, it may be the price they have to pay.
