Man Utd news: Marcus Rashford has 'route back' as Michael Carrick outlines transfer stance

Manchester United face a busy transfer window as early preparations for next season begin. Michael Carrick’s side will focus on strengthening their squad and look to build upon their third-place finish in the Premier League . Casemiro’s departure has made midfield a priority in the transfer window, with United looking to add more than one player in the department. Atalanta star Ederson is nearing a move to Old Trafford as the team’s recruitment plans take shape.

Kobbie Mainoo has enjoyed a resurgence during Carrick’s tenure and will likely keep his place under the new permanent manager. The 44-year-old coach has spoken about the England star’s importance and outlined his role within the squad.

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford continues to be linked with a return to United following his Barcelona loan spell . Here, Mirror Football looks at some of the biggest stories surrounding the club. FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page Former United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen believes Rashford could be given a chance to prove himself under Carrick .

Barcelona can sign the forward permanently for £26million but that clause is yet to be triggered, leading Meulensteen to suggest that talks with the United boss may lead to a surprise return, having last played for the Red Devils in December 2024. "There is a route back for Marcus Rashford because Michael Carrick knows him," Meulensteen told BOYLE Sports. "I think there is a really important conversation to be had, no two ways about it.” He continued: "Maybe it has been good for him to move away for a while, just to have a look at it and look back at Manchester United from the outside in. Because it will also have given him the opportunity to realise how much Man United actually means to him.

"Because he knows Michael and Michael knows him, I think it's definitely a good conversation that they should have. And then obviously, it all depends on what exactly the expectations are from both parties." The Manchester United manager has insisted that any defensive midfield signings the club make will not solely be based on how well they could play alongside Mainoo. The 21-year-old formed an impressive partnership with Casemiro but Carrick has explained that finding a partner for Mainoo should not dictate recruitment plans . "I mean, there's a balance," the United boss said.

"There's a balance as a football club, because you're not necessarily, whenever it is, bringing a player in just to play with one player. “I think it's about fitting the squad, the balance of the squad, being able to cope with playing here in different competitions for so many games. So it's not necessarily... I'm talking quite broad here in general. With any player, you're not just bringing them just to play with one player, but certainly there's a dynamic and there's a balance that needs to be had.” He added: "The beauty about Kobbie is that he can do so many things well, and I think he's proven that, and he's evolved so much in the four or five months that I've seen his progress.

And that's him. "I'm not taking the credit for that. He's done that himself, but I think he's shown that he can do so many things. So it makes bringing players in to play with a player like Kobbie a little bit easier when he can adapt himself, and I think he's adapted over time." Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football.

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