Report: Manchester United to Seek Marcus Rashford Replacement in January Following Ruben Amorim’s Decision to Omit Him from Matchday Squad
Manchester United are considering a move for a replacement for Marcus Rashford as soon as January, as Ruben Amorim has expressed doubts about the English forward since his appointment.
Rashford began both of Amorim’s first two Premier League matches in charge of Manchester United, but he found himself on the bench during the second half against both Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
The Portuguese manager made the decision to exclude Rashford, along with Alejandro Garnacho, from the matchday squad during Sunday’s 2-1 win against Manchester City, stating that after assessing his “training, performance, and engagement with team-mates,” the selection was straightforward.
Manchester United exploring potential replacements for Marcus Rashford
Consequently, the future of the 27-year-old Manchester United academy product at Old Trafford appears uncertain, with various forwards from across Europe being linked as his potential replacements.
As reported by L’Equipe, Manchester United is interested in signing PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani during the January transfer window, with a potential loan deal including an option to buy being discussed.
Sky Sports Germany reported that Kolo Muani has been left out of PSG manager Luis Enrique’s future plans, indicating that the French club is open to his departure.
Having started merely two matches across all competitions for PSG this season, Kolo Muani has struggled for game time. Despite a total of 14 appearances yielding two goals and one assist, the 26-year-old has been marginalized, accumulating just 78 minutes of play since early November.
Kolo Muani would be a good fit in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United, thanks to his versatility as both a central striker and a wide forward, which complements various attacking roles in the lineup.
Although Kolo Muani still has three years remaining on his contract and moved to PSG for over £75 million in the summer of 2023, Transfermarkt values him at around £25 million. This valuation aligns well with Manchester United’s budget considerations, particularly regarding compliance with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
According to eScored, acquiring Kolo Muani in the January transfer window would be a smart move, especially if structured as a loan with an option to buy. If he does not meet expectations at Old Trafford, the club would be under no obligation to make the transfer permanent, and recent signings on loan—such as Marcel Sabitzer, Wout Weghorst, and Sofyan Amrabat—illustrate Manchester United’s openness to diverse deal structures.
