The local lad’s ascent to prominence at Old Trafford has brought Marcus Rashford and Manchester United to the verge of becoming metaphorical.

Since making his Red Devils debut as an adolescent over a decade ago, Marcus Rashford has solidified his position as a fan favorite and one of the first names on the teamsheet. Moreover, Rashford was awarded one of the club’s most lucrative contracts in the summer of 2023, in recognition of his reputed significance to the Greater Manchester club.

Rashford, who has a contract in place at Old Trafford through 2028, reportedly earns £340,000 per week, which is the United squad’s second-highest compensation. It transpired amidst speculations of discontentment at the club, as Paris Saint-Germain had expressed interest in the forward.

Nevertheless, given his lackluster start to the 2023–24 campaign and United’s overall poor performance, there are rumors that the two clubs may decide to separate. As a consequence, GIVEMESPORT has examined five potential replacements for Marcus Rashford that could be recruited at Old Trafford in a practical sense.

Donyell Malen

Donyell Malen, a former Arsenal development prospect whose career has been a slow burner, is currently reaping the benefits of his perseverance.

Malen, who starts frequently for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, is an ambidextrous attacker who primarily operates from the right flank for the German club. FBref, a database of football statistics, places the Dutchman’s non-penalty goals per 90 minutes within the top three percentile among wide forwards.

Evidently capable of duplicating Rashford’s goal-scoring output, Malen could be acquired for a reasonable price by United should they opt to pursue that course of action. The former Eredivisie champion is valued at approximately £30 million by Transfermarkt, which makes him one of the more affordable options on this list.

If Dortmund were to approve a transfer in the vicinity of that price range, there is no indication that he would be incapable of improving and contributing to a club of United’s magnitude.

Jarrod Bowen

A primary concern regarding a prospective Rashford substitute would be their capacity to perform satisfactorily in the Premier League. One individual who is well-acclimatized to life in the Premier League of England is Jarrod Bowen, who has flourished at West Ham United under former Manchester United manager David Moyes.

Bowen, who has contributed to approximately 30 assists and over 40 goals in his 170 appearances for West Ham, is largely regarded as one of the Premier League’s best wingers. In fact, journalist Paul Brown recently told GIVEMESPORT that the Englishman is “ready to make a significant step forward” by joining a Premier League club, alluding to an imminent transfer to a club in the Champions League.

Although he recently signed a new long-term contract at the London Stadium, which is scheduled to expire in the summer of 2030, it is improbable that he would be able to reject United’s interest should they manifest interest.

Pedro Neto

After becoming an established Premier League hero, Pedro Neto has emerged as one of the season’s most prominent performers in 2023/24, and rumors of a transfer away from Wolverhampton Wanderers are beginning to circulate.

Fabrizio Romano, a transfer expert, stated in an interview with GIVEMESPORT that United is monitoring Neto, but due to the financial implications of the transaction, it is unlikely that they will pursue him in the near future. Nonetheless, this may alter if Marcus Rashford departs the club, in which case United will be in dire need of acquiring a player with immediate impact.

That is precisely what Neto would deliver, as his track record in the Premier League of England justly merits praise. Throughout his initial ten Premier League appearances for Wolves this season, Neto contributed an impressive eight goals and ten assists in support of the West Midlands club.

An entirely Portuguese citizen. Old Trafford faithful would be impressed by Neto’s abilities should he ever decide to join the 20-time English champions.

Nico Williams

Nico Williams, an additional Iberian Peninsula-born winger whose performances have been outstanding, is the most recent prodigy to emerge from the illustrious Athletic Bilbao factory. The attacker, who emulates the achievements of Ander Herrera, Aymeric Laporte, and his sibling Inaki Williams, is expected to have a distinguished career in European football. He is a product of Athletic’s renowned academy.

FBref ranks Williams, age 21, among the most direct wingers in La Liga, with an average of more than five progressive carries and three take-ons per match. Williams, a winger who delights in attacking the opposing backline, could compensate for the lack of directness that United would experience in Rashford’s absence.

Despite this, Williams still has considerable space for improvement, particularly in terms of his goal contributions, which are an area that could be enhanced. The Spaniard international contributed 11 goals against against the opposition in 36 La Liga appearances for Athletic last season, which was respectable but not astounding.

However, there is nothing to imply that Williams would not flourish as Rashford’s replacement at Old Trafford if given the opportunity to mature in the proper environment.

Rafael Leao

In conclusion, Rafael Leao is likely the most suitable successor to Marcus Rashford for Manchester United, and there are even rumors that he may prove to be an improvement. Leao, widely acknowledged as one of the most dynamic attackers in Europe, has been a constant fixture for AC Milan since his transfer from Lille in 2019. His contributions have been pivotal in the Serie A club’s reestablishment as one of the premier clubs in Italy. The Portuguese player’s physical and towering stature resembles that of his fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo, whose height and frame also render him an exceptional candidate for wide play.

Leao scored 11 goals and assisted on 10 others during Milan’s 2021/22 Scudetto-winning campaign. The following season, when the 19-time Italian champions advanced to the Champions League semifinals, he accumulated a total of 31 G/A contributions.

FBref positions Leao, the Portuguese international, among the top 15% of wingers in Europe in terms of progressive carries, successful take-ons, and touches in the opposition penalty area per game. This ranking is unsurprising, given Leao’s prominence among his peers. Due to these destructive characteristics, Leao is the ideal candidate to succeed Marcus Rashford at Old Trafford.

Expect United to be interested in the attacker, who is valued at £78 million, should he decide to depart Milan. Should the club be in the market for a left-sided winger in the upcoming transfer windows, United may be interested.