Rashford faces summer in post-loan limbo but Carrick says door at United is not closed

Marcus Rashford could have a summer of transfer limbo in store despite Michael Carrick admitting the door is not completely closed on the forward playing for Manchester United again. Rashford is currently on loan at Barcelona but it is becoming increasingly unlikely the move will be made permanent, which will obligate a return to Old Trafford where he would receive a wage rise if the club qualify for the Champions League.

The 28-year-old has not played for United since December 2024, spending the past 16 months out on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona, who have the option to purchase Rashford for €30m (£26m). United sit comfortably in third, seven points above Saturday’s opponents, sixth-placed Chelsea, but will not want to see the gap close come full time at Stamford Bridge.

After two seasons without Champions League football, returning to Europe’s top table is vital for United but will result in players’ wages increasing, with Rashford’s salary reaching £325,000 per week on his deal, which runs until 2028. United would be keen to sell him but few could match his earnings.

“There’s decisions to be made in time on certain things, and obviously Marcus is in that situation. But at this point in time, nothing’s been decided,” Carrick said. “Certainly from my perspective, whoever’s here I want to work with, make the best out of, and help them improve. At the moment, it’s this squad of players, and there’s obviously players on loan, and whatever happens with that later on will happen with that later on. But certainly, as a coach, and as a leader of a squad, we want to get the best out of everyone as much as we possibly can.”

Harry Maguire’s extra one-game ban has left Manchester United short of centre-back options against Chelsea on Saturday. Photograph: Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images

Carrick will want to see his team bounce back from Monday night’s home defeat by Leeds but faces a defensive crisis. He will once again be without Harry Maguire who received a further one-match suspension for his behaviour to the fourth official after being sent off in the . He will be joined by Lisandro Martínez on the sidelines after his dismissal for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair in the defeat by Leeds, to leave Carrick short of centre-backs, with Matthijs De Ligt a long-term absentee.