Man Utd target £16m Premier League star as Marcus Rashford replacement | Football

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing Everton star Iliman Ndiaye as a possible replacement for Marcus Rashford ahead of the summer transfer window.

Rashford joined Barcelona on a season-long loan deal as United splashed out in the region of £200million to overhaul their misfiring attack with the addition of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko last summer.

In that time, Rashford has made a total of 37 appearances in all competitions for the Spanish champions, chipping in with a respectable tally of ten goals and 13 assists.

Fierce competition for places means Rashford is yet to establish himself as a nailed-on member of Hansi Flick’s XI when everyone is fit. However, 14 of the forward’s 23 league games have come as starts this term.

Rashford is still yet to provide any assurances over his plans beyond the summer and the England international’s resurgence in La Liga has only intensified talk and speculation surrounding his long-term future.

However, according to Spanish publication Sport, Barcelona are now ‘finally convinced’ by Rashford’s worth and the club’s hierarchy are actively looking to sign the 28-year-old on a permanent deal.

It’s claimed the Catalan giants are ‘already working’ on exercising a €30million (£26m) option in their deal to sign Rashford outright at the end of the season.

The United academy graduate is said to ‘feel comfortable’ in Barcelona, telling those in his inner circle that he would be keen to continue his career at the Camp Nou.

Michael Carrick had been been ‘counting on’ the idea of having Rashford at his disposal should he still be in charge of United next season – but the forward’s stance means the club have been forced to consider alternative options in the transfer market.

The report claims Yan Diomande is one of the many attackers on United’s shortlist having caught the club’s attention with his speed and dribbling ability across a phenomenal debut season with RB Leipzig.

Como’s Jesus Rodriguez, Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Strasbourg’s Martial Godo are also named as players in the thoughts of key decision-makers at Old Trafford.

Closer to home, United are believed to be keeping tabs on Ndiaye’s situation, a player who would need no time to adjust to the Premier League after two outstanding years with Everton.

In a mid-table Everton team, Ndiaye has racked up five goals and three assists in the English top flight this season.

The 26-year-old also enjoyed success at international level at the start of this year, playing an instrumental role as Pape Thiaw’s conquering Senegal side won the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations.

Everton stand to make a tidy profit should they decide to cash in on Ndiaye in the summer having signed the winger for a fee of just £16million from Marseille back in 2024.

Ndiaye has three-and-a-half years remaining on his current contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

In a recent interview with AceOdds.com, ex-United striker Louis Saha encouraged his former club to explore a move for Ndiaye, who he described as a ‘mix of Amad and Mbeumo’.

‘Ndiaye, from the moment he signed, he’s been an amazing talent. I would love to see him, maybe at some point at Manchester United, to be honest,’ Saha explained.

‘He’s a very skillful player. I like Ndiaye’s style. Like Mbeumo, he’s comfortable with the ball.

‘His work rate is very good… he’s a bit like a mix of Amad and Mbeumo to be honest.’

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