Marcus Rashford has acknowledged that consistency remains the central issue in his game and suggested his time at Manchester United contributed to that problem. The England forward was responding to assessments from figures such as Thomas Tuchel that his tendency to produce sporadic brilliance, rather than sustained excellence, is his defining weakness.

“For sure, consistency is a massive part of it,” he told ITV. “I feel like I have been in an inconsistent environment for a very long time, so it is even more difficult to be consistent.

“But I completely agree, I think consistency is what I need to bring into my game and I am looking to do that. I want to be at my best, not sometimes, but as often as possible.

“When people talk about consistency, in order to be consistent in anything not just sport, you need consistent variables in your life and the way you train.

“We have just had so many changes so far in my career but I have to look forward and that is definitely one of the things I want to put right and improve on to be at my best more often.

“When I am at my best I really enjoy everything about the sport.”

Rashford’s senior United career spanned numerous managerial changes. Ruben Amorim was the sixth permanent manager he experienced at club level. He made his debut under Louis van Gaal and later worked with José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag, while also experiencing brief caretaker spells under Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

His most productive period at the club came under Solskjær, when he recorded 55 goals and 36 assists in 135 appearances. No manager has given him more minutes or more appearances than the Norwegian.

Now on loan at Barcelona and working with Hansi Flick, Rashford has made a strong start in Catalonia. The La Liga champions have the option to sign him permanently when his loan expires last summer and recent reports suggest everyone involved is keen on that outcome.

Barcelona sporting director Deco has made clear the club will not rush a decision on Robert Lewandowski and warned supporters against fixating on a marquee replacement such as Erling Haaland. Deco told Catalunya Ràdio that talks over the striker’s future will take place later in the campaign and that the club is taking a measured approach.

“We’re not going to talk about renewals in October,” he said. “We’re going step by step.

“[Lewandowski] is one of the best forwards of recent years, a top-level player. He’s helped us a lot. He’s scored more than 40 goals, but we’ll analyze that later. It’s time to talk about recovering injured players.”

The door to a short-term extension for Lewandowski, who has four goals in seven games this season, remains open, Deco confirmed, but the club will prioritise other issues before making a decision on a contract renewal.

Deco also sought to dampen talk linking Barcelona to big-money forwards such as Haaland or Alvarez. He questioned whether the team requires a traditional centre forward and pointed to alternative models used elsewhere in Europe.

He cited Paris Saint-Germain’s use of Ousmane Dembélé in a more fluid attacking role and highlighted Ferran Torres, who has scored five goals in all competitions during 2025–26, as a player capable of occupying similar spaces.

“If someone told me there was someone like Lewandowski on the market, we’d go for him,” Deco conceded. “But I don’t think this is the time to talk about signings.

“We have Ferran right now, who can fill that role. And we shouldn’t obsess. If you look at PSG, they’ve won a Champions League title without a number 9 in the box.

“Obsessing over that is a mistake, and it’s not the time to talk about this.”

Deco’s comments signal a cautious stance from the club: acknowledge Lewandowski’s contribution, keep renewal discussions for later, and resist an immediate hunt for a like-for-like superstar.

Real Madrid have reportedly become suitors for Crystal Palace centre back Marc Guéhi, joining Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in a growing list of interested clubs. Guéhi is in the final 12 months of his contract with Crystal Palace and attracted transfer attention after a move to Merseyside collapsed on deadline day last month.

The centre back had reportedly agreed personal terms with Liverpool, but Palace were unable to find an adequate replacement and the transfer fell through. The England international remains one of the most sought after players on the market. While a January departure is viewed as unlikely, his status as a free agent in June could open the door for a move to one of Europe’s biggest teams.

Real Madrid had Ibrahima Konaté at the top of their list, but after William Saliba signed a contract extension with Arsenal the 15-time European champions are reportedly exploring other options, with Guéhi emerging as a candidate. The club added Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras this past summer, yet sources say they still aim to bring in at least one defensive reinforcement for 2026.

Both Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba are in the final 12 months of their contracts and, according to reports, the club has not moved to offer extensions to either player. Should those veterans depart next summer, Real Madrid would be left with just three first-team centre backs. With Éder Militão’s history of injuries and Raúl Asencio’s inconsistent performances, the club may seek a physically strong, reliable centre back for the 2026–27 season.

Guéhi fits the profile outlined by the reports, but Real Madrid will face competition and a persuasive challenge. The England international was, according to recent coverage, just hours away from joining Liverpool in September, suggesting any suitor will have to overcome strong interest and recent near-misses to secure his signing.