The doubts over Marcus Rashford's future at Man United are continuing and so are the links of a move to Tottenham. The 24-year-old has been struggling at the Manchester club and reports have been suggesting that he is now reconsidering his future, with both Tottenham and north London rivals Arsenal linked to the attacker.
With a current market value of £76.5million according to transfermarkt, Rashford wouldn't be a cheap option for Spurs, but is someone that Antonio Conte has previously praised. Although the Manchester-born player operates on the wing more often than not, he can also play as a centre forward.
Whether Harry Kane remains at Tottenham for next season or not, some further reinforcements in the front line could still be a boost for Conte. The Lilywhites are currently fifth in the league, with nine games left to go and just three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.
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If Tottenham are able to get into the top four ahead of their north London rivals and Man United, it is likely to provide a boost in the level of players they can attract during the summer transfer window. This may also be of help when trying to attract the likes of Rashford, if Fabio Paratici decides to target such players.
The 24-year-old has made 26 appearances in all competitions for United this season, but has seen a dip in form. During the 2019/20 season, Rashford made 31 league appearances, scoring 17 goals and registering nine assists.
During this campaign, the winger has only made 19 appearances in the league, scoring just four goals and registering two assists with criticism from fans and pundits alike in recent months. Despite this, Paul Merson and Gary Neville both don't believe the Manchester club should sell him. "No manager in their right mind would come to Old Trafford and offload Rashford," Merson explained.
"He's not playing with freedom at this moment in time," Neville added. "I'd hate to think that an academy player at the age of nine, that's got great talent, would leave just after his first bad period, even though it's probably been 12 to 18 months now."
Neville went on to say that he believes Rashford needs some time away in the summer to reassess what he wants to do and where he wants to be. If the 24-year-old does this and decides a move is what he wants and what is best, could it be a move to north London that he opts for?
If this is the case then there could be a race with both north London clubs for the winger, with Arsenal also being linked with the England international. It would be interesting to see what Spurs would do if Rashford was a clear option for them during the summer transfer window and Conte has previously given his verdict on the United man.
"It's very difficult to find anyone like him [Rashford] in England. That's the one player now who has shown he is strong physically, fast technically and a good player," the Italian explained in 2017 - and a year later described him as an "important player".
The 24-year-old has previously admitted that working with Jose Mourinho was a "massive learning period" but one that helped him "understand football in different ways". If there is a manager that can help the winger improve even further and find form once again, it would hopefully be found working with someone as successful as Conte.
If Paratici is a busy man during the summer window, then additions to the front line could also be brought in. If the Italian has already praised the Manchester born defender and Rashford is willing to put the work in, then the two could potentially work well together.
It has been a difficult season for Rashford and this continued when he was left out of the England squad for this international break, which Gareth Southgate explained. "With Marcus, he is in the same position as everyone else, whether they are in the squad or not they all have to play well in the next period, it is a difficult time for him, he is clearly not at his best. There is plenty of time, we know about Marcus, we know what he can bring to us."
Ralf Rangnick has also spoken about Rashford and his lack of game time since the 63-year-old's arrival in Manchester. "Even suppose he and his agents or his family at one stage of the summer think about maybe going to another club, well then he can do that but in the summer. Now the window is closed."
The 24-year-old will not only be wanting to get back to his best form and show the quality everyone knows he has, but also get back to his best so he can be impressing the likes of Southgate ahead of the World Cup at the end of the year. A fresh start in the summer could be what is best for his career and if a move is on the cards, could it be one that Conte and Tottenham are open to?
