Marcus Rashford sends Tottenham transfer message as Man Utd saga takes twist | Football | Sport

Marcus Rashford is reportedly showing no desire to join Tottenham amid claims Spurs are monitoring the England international closely. The north Londoners are amongst four Premier League sides linked with an interest in Rashford, 28, with Barcelona yet to trigger a £26million option to sign him permanently as part of their loan arrangement. The Catalan giants reportedly have until mid-June to make their decision, after which the clause expires.

Rashford would then head back to his parent club, Manchester United, following last season’s loan spell in La Liga. That is where clubs such as Spurs could enter the picture. Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham are keeping informed of developments, according to The Mirror, but Rashford is said to have no interest in joining either of the latter two clubs.

United are also reportedly unwilling to conduct business with a domestic rival. The reason they are keen to offload him is that they want to remove his £325,000-a-week wages from their books permanently.

Spurs chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has suggested that they will invest more on salaries than under his predecessor, Daniel Levy. However, accommodating Rashford would represent a dramatic shift from their long-established wage structure.

Tottenham have been in the market for a new winger since last summer, hence their interest in Savinho, which looks set to be rekindled once again this summer. Both operate primarily from the left, though Rashford would also provide an option centrally.

The Brazilian is clearly a long-term target, while Rashford would represent an opportunistic signing by capitalising on Barcelona’s hesitation. Savinho also appears to be the more economical choice, being six-and-a-half years younger than Rashford.

Roberto De Zerbi spoke immediately after Spurs secured their survival about his ambitions for the summer. He said: “From tonight, we have to start to organise and to build a new team.

“I don’t think we have now to change too many players, we have 10, 11, 12 players good enough to stay, good enough, like players, especially like people.

“Then we have to complete the squad with the first level of players, first level of players, because we suffered too much.

“I suffered a lot, but I think the fans, the club, the board, the players, they suffered too much. We are Tottenham, and we can’t suffer like this until the last second of the last game to stay up.

“And I will be stronger, I will be stronger. I don’t want to decide alone because football is a group – sporting director, scouting, CEO – but my target now is finished to stay up, my target is to start the pre-season with the team I have in my dream.”

“I suffered a lot, but I think the fans, the club, the board, the players, they suffered too much. We are Tottenham, and we can’t suffer like this until the last second of the last game to stay up.

“And I will be stronger, I will be stronger. I don’t want to decide alone because football is a group – sporting director, scouting, CEO – but my target now is finished to stay up, my target is to start the pre-season with the team I have in my dream.”

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