Hands off Rashford!

MANCHESTER. — Manchester United will secure Marcus Rashford’s future at Old Trafford before the end of the year to fend off interest from rival football clubs.

Rashford has entered the final eight months of his £200 000-a-week contract, and United will either offer him new terms or trigger the one-year option on his current deal — otherwise Rashford would be able to open talks formally with foreign clubs from January 1.

But Rashford wants to stay at Manchester United and is keen on signing a new longterm deal at the club.

The 25-year-old scored his 100th goal for the club during a 1-0 win against West Ham United on Sunday.

That took the forward’s tally for the season to seven goals — which is two more than he enjoyed in the entirety of the last campaign.

Rashford’s current deal expires at the end of the season, though the club can trigger a 12-month extension before that point to keep him at Old Trafford until 2024.

Rashford would, though, be free to speak to clubs from January 1 if the club do not trigger that extension.

United prefer to open talks over a new long-term deal instead of simply triggering that extension as they feel this shows Rashford that he is firmly part of their plans.

Rashford endured a torrid 12 months before Erik ten Hag’s appointment and his representatives met with Paris Saint-Germain before the season started with a view to discussing a move to the French capital.

However, Rashford’s rediscovered his best form under the Dutchman and the Daily Mail say he wants to stay at the club.

Rashford admitted after Sunday’s win that he wasn’t in the right ‘’head space’’ last

season but he feels in a better position now.

‘’ To be honest, there is a completely different energy around the whole club, the training ground and that puts me in a better head space — I feel really motivated now,’’ said Rashford.

‘’I struggled at times last season — more mental things, not my own performance. It was other things off the pitch. Too often last season I wasn’t in the right head space.

‘’I need to be scoring a few more headers. For me it is about getting in the areas and goals will come.’’ — Mailonline *