Marcus Rashford is expected to return to Manchester United for the new season, being re-integrated into Michael Carrick's first-team squad once his World Cup commitments with England conclude. The development matters because the 28-year-old forward has been frozen out at Old Trafford since December 2024, spending recent spells on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona, and his reintegration signals that a fractured relationship with the club may be easing under Carrick, with whom there is said to be no issue.

United's preferred outcome would actually be to sell Rashford to relieve his roughly £17.5m annual salary, but suitable buyers have not emerged. A permanent move to Barcelona stalled after the Catalan club signed Anthony Gordon rather than trigger Rashford's £26m release clause, and United do not intend to pursue another loan there. Rashford, who has two years left on his contract, will take a three-week break after the World Cup before rejoining pre-season training, potentially featuring in United's friendly schedule ahead of their Premier League opener at Hull City.