Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted that he believes Marcus Rashford has the potential to reach the same level as Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe, who has scored five goals at the World Cup in Qatar, taking him to the front of the race for the Golden Boot, is widely considered as the best player in the world on current form. He has been in sensational form in recent years and his potential is off the scale, such is the excitement around his ability.
Mbappe, who is 23, has scored nine goals in just 12 World Cup appearances during his career and is now two wins away from winning the trophy for the second time. He also became the youngest teenager since Pele to score in a World Cup final Pele in 1958.
READ MORE: United make decisions on five players' contracts
Rashford, by comparison, scored three goals in Qatar, including an impressive brace in England's 3-0 win over Wales in their final group fixture. The United ace offered plenty of encouragement during the tournament, offering hope that he can continue where he left off when the domestic campaign resumes.
Ten Hag said: "From the first moment, I recognised huge potential. And now to get out the potential, I believe when Marcus's positioning is on the back of the defending line, there is almost no better player in the world. There is Mbappe in this moment, a type like him. But when he (Rashford)'s getting in that position, he's great and you see he's really improved also out of possession."
Prior to the tournament, Rashford had enjoyed a solid start to the season, scoring eight goals and grabbing three assists. It has been a significant improvement on the five goals and two assists he managed in the whole of last season.
His impressive form has certainly not gone under the radar. He is out-of-contract at the end of the season, although United have the option to extend his stay by a further year, and French giants Paris Saint-Germain have expressed their interest in signing the England international.
Last week, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said: "He's another player that is really amazing. And for free? To have Rashford for free, every club would run after him, definitely.
"We're not hiding it, we spoke before and… interest. But the moment was not a good moment for both sides. Maybe, summer, why not?
"Today if he's a free agent of course we can talk to him directly but we are not going to talk to him now. Let him focus on the World Cup. Then after in January, hopefully, if we're interested we will talk to him."
Therefore, with talk of Mbappe joining Real Madrid, Al-Khelaifi's comments suggest PSG consider Rashford as a like-for-like replacement. And judging by Ten Hag's comments, he believes Rashford is on a similar level.
And some United supporters have chosen to agree with Ten Hag's comments, pointing to how PSG see Rashford as a possible replacement for Mbappe. Below, MEN Sport has taken a close look at what the fans have had to say:
READ NEXT:
- All the latest United news, views and transfer updates
- United fans have been given an answer at the World Cup they weren't expecting
- Jadon Sancho is about to show if Antony is right about Erik ten Hag
- Rio Ferdinand questions England manager Gareth Southgate
- Erik ten Hag has hinted at six starters vs Burnley
