If Marcus Rashford decides to leave Manchester United on a free transfer next summer, Manchester United may have the ideal successor on hand. Youssoufa Moukoko, a Borussia Dortmund talent, is considering departing on a free transfer in 2023, with the club reportedly interested in signing him.
Rashford has 15 months left on his £200,000-per-week contract, which he signed in 2019 to cement his status as a vital player at Old Trafford.
However, the 24-year-old has been dissatisfied with his lack of playing time under Ralf Rangnick and is now seriously pondering his future at Old Trafford.
Rashford has only scored four goals in 18 Premier League games this season, with just nine of those being starts.
The attacker has been out of form and is having his worst run of goalscoring form with the Red Devils, which has cost him his spot as a regular starter.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick appears to favor young winger Anthony Elanga over Rashford in the pecking order, as he chose the Swedish talent for Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Manchester City.
Even when Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani were ruled out, the German coach opted to play without a striker rather than field Rashford.
And if he is consistently kept out of the starting XI, the England international may contemplate leaving in the summer, with United considering moves for a number of targets.
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According to Bild, if Rashford decides to move for a fresh challenge abroad, the club might attack Dortmund for a second summer in a succession.
Last summer, the Red Devils paid £73 million to buy Jadon Sancho from Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich, and Moukoko might be next on their list.
Despite his young age, the 17-year-old star has apparently opted to quit the German club due to a lack of playing time.
According to Bild, many Premier League teams have shown an interest in signing Moukoko on a permanent basis.
A loan transfer is possible, with previous club St Pauli a possible destination.
However, Moukoko would have to sign a new contract first, and he is reported to be hesitant to extend.
Moukoko is under contract at Signal Iduna Park until 2023, but his agent Patrick Williams told Bild in January that “it’s not a certain conclusion” that the highly-rated kid will be extended.
Moukoko, who has represented Germany at the Under-21 level, has one goal and two assists in 11 Bundesliga outings this season.
He is presently out with an injury, but the young attacker is thinking about his future after sliding down the Dortmund pecking order.
Moukoko drew the attention of Europe’s best teams during his youth football days after scoring 142 goals for the Under-18 side.
However, his rise to the first team has not gone as planned, with Erling Haaland and Donyell Malen both ahead of him.
And this might allow Manchester United to rush in with a low-cost move to replace Rashford this summer or to wait until he is available on a free transfer in 2023.
