Marcus Rashford’s destination for 2026 remains unresolved as Manchester United balance competing interests and contractual realities. Barcelona are no longer viewed as a long-term landing place and have been described as cash-strapped, with reports that they have tried to negotiate a further discount. Manchester United are widely believed to have no intention of allowing that. If Rashford stays at Barcelona at all, it might only be in the form of another loan .

There is genuine uncertainty over whether a path back to Old Trafford exists. Ruben Amorim’s departure in January would certainly help that prospect, while United currently lack a natural fit for Rashford’s preferred left-sided role. Cost is a factor too, with the player contractually entitled to a pay rise that complicates any permanent deal.

The Daily Mail now report that Arsenal are “monitoring the situation.” The same report cites similar Bayern Munich interest. Arsenal’s left wing has been identified as one of the weaker areas of their forward line. Leandro Trossard is described as reliable and functional but limited, and he currently has the edge on Gabriel Martinelli, who has ironically been touted as a target for Barcelona to replace Rashford.

A move to Arsenal, with no numbers disclosed at this stage, would echo Danny Welbeck’s 2014 transfer from Manchester to London. Welbeck emerged from the United academy aged 17 and played 142 senior games before he was sold. Cruelly, his Arsenal career was plagued by injuries and it is only since joining Brighton & Hove Albion shortly before turning 30 in 2020 that he’s rediscovered himself.

For Bayern, signing Rashford would follow a recent pattern of Premier League recruits. Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz have been credited with supercharging the German side after moves from Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Liverpool respectively. Rashford might not be an automatic starter for Bayern’s strongest XI but could provide versatile cover across the front three.

Matheus Cunha has been United’s regular left-wing option in recent months, though his favoured role is central. Mason Mount has also been deployed there, while Patrick Dorgu is built more as an attacking fullback than a specialist winger. The report names AC Milan’s Rafael Leão as one of “a number of options” United could consider; Leão is cited at a possible $68 million (£50 million). With the possibility Rashford is not sold and instead returns to Manchester, little can be resolved until his plans for the next year are clear.

Manchester United face a difficult decision as Michael Carrick remains an obvious internal option while Andoni Iraola emerges as a leading external candidate. Iraola, who announced his Bournemouth departure last month, has attracted attention for an eye-catching rise on the south coast that could end in European qualification this term.

Iraola has favoured a 4-2-3-1 since arriving in England, the same system he used regularly with Rayo Vallecano. More important than formation is his tactical identity: intense, front-footed football that presses high and forces turnovers. United have faced his Bournemouth side six times without victory, winning two and drawing four. “Chaos” was the word first used to describe his approach to Premier League audiences, and the energy of his teams can produce havoc, as seen in the 4-4 draw at Old Trafford in December.

In possession Iraola asks for quick, direct movement and the exploitation of turnovers near the opposition goal. Bournemouth’s attacking output this season underlines that approach; only four teams have scored more than the Cherries.

If Iraola took charge, a likely framework and personnel issues United would have to address are clear.

GK: Senne Lammens — Signed from the Belgian Pro League as a relative unknown, the 23-year-old has impressed in his debut term and offered reassurance between the posts.

RB: Tino Livramento — United currently have Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui, but Iraola may prefer a more athletic, attack-minded option such as Livramento.

CB: Matthijs de Ligt — Injury affected his season, but he had shown strong form before that and remains central to the club’s plans.

CB: Lisandro Martínez — Also hampered by injury, Martínez remains the preferred left-footed centre back.

LB: Adrien Truffert — With Luke Shaw approaching 31 and Patrick Dorgu yet to establish himself at left back, Truffert could be an ideal long-term option.

CM: Sandro Tonali — United need major midfield recruitment to replace Casemiro. Tonali’s blend of work-rate and technique fits Iraola’s demands.

CM: Kobbie Mainoo — Carrick has helped revive Mainoo’s progress; Iraola would likely continue to build the midfield around the 21-year-old.

RW: Bryan Mbeumo — An encouraging debut campaign has seen Mbeumo provide goals and creativity and he could add spark on the right.

AM: Bruno Fernandes — The captain has thrived under every past manager. Iraola would need to give Fernandes freedom to orchestrate attacks.

Matheus Cunha compared Michael Carrick’s arrival to a dose of old‑school inspiration and credited the caretaker manager with sparking Manchester United’s recent recovery. Cunha opened the scoring in the derby and said: “When Michael [Carrick] came, he came with magic! Alex Ferguson vibes. He talks so much about his team, the conquering team. This feeling comes to us. We feel so happy with the information, we focus so hard to reach the objective.

“At the end of the day, this is just the start of the journey, it’s the beginning—a beautiful beginning!”

United were seventh when Carrick took the helm, narrowly beating out Ole Gunnar Solskjær in the race of former players to replace Ruben Amorim. Since that change the club have posted the best record in the league, a run that has included victories over Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. That same group of players had earlier been dumped out of the Carabao Cup second round by fourth‑tier Grimsby Town.

There has been a tangible shift beyond nostalgia. Carrick has moved the team from Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 to a more direct 4-2-3-1 and has repositioned players to suit their strengths. Bruno Fernandes explained how Carrick identified the right half-space as a key area for the playmaker to exploit; it was from that zone that Fernandes started the move which led to Benjamin Šeško’s goal against Liverpool.

Few have benefited more than Kobbie Mainoo. The academy graduate, who had one foot out of the door by the end of Amorim’s tenure, signed a new lucrative deal and is now a nailed-on starter. Mainoo said of Carrick: “He’s played a huge part in it, all the confidence he gives all the players. You want to follow him and fight for him and die for him on the pitch.”

After 17 games Carrick’s record stands alongside Sir Alex Ferguson’s early benchmark: Carrick (start date Jan. 17, 2026) 12 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses, 33 goals for and 19 against; Ferguson (start date Nov. 8, 1986) 7 wins, 6 draws, 4 losses, 22 goals for and 15 against.

United’s hierarchy have made no decision on a permanent appointment. Andoni Iraola is being seriously considered and the interest in Luis Enrique has not been entirely closed off. Carrick declined to discuss his future: “Whatever is going to happen is going to happen,” he shrugged.