Marcus Rashford sent clear message from Jadon Sancho as Man Utd deal proposed

Marcus Rashford was a surprise omission from the Manchester United squad for the derby win over City, and speculation continues to mount over his future at the club

Marcus Rashford could take a leaf out of Jadon Sancho's book as rumours about his future at Manchester United continue to swirl.

The 27-year-old - along with Alejandro Garnacho - was left out of Ruben Amorim's squad for the derby against Manchester City on Sunday. Although United's thrilling last-gasp turnaround diverted attention away from Rashford's unexpected omission, speculation is now running rife that an Old Trafford departure could be on the cards for the forward in 2025, particularly after Rashford admitted he was "open" to leaving the club on Tuesday.

According to ESPN, Borussia Dortmund have emerged as potential suitors for Rashford - should United decide to let him go. However, they're only interested in a loan deal, similar to the one they arranged for Sancho 11 months ago.

Sancho had been frozen out by Erik ten Hag following a disagreement and returned to Dortmund - his former club - in an attempt to rejuvenate his career. The move certainly paid off, with Sancho delivering some of his best performances in years and helping the German side reach the Champions League final.

While it didn't save his United career, it did pave the way for a summer move to Chelsea - and Rashford could potentially benefit in a similar way. The England star has been struggling with form over the past year-and-a-half and might consider following in Sancho's footsteps by using a temporary stint at Dortmund as a possible springboard.

After all, Sancho has often gushed about his fond memories at the club. When his loan spell ended in June, he wrote: "@BVB I want to thank everyone involved at such an amazing club. I can't thank you enough for welcoming me back the way you all have during these last six months."

On the day his loan return was made official in January, he admitted that it was like a homecoming for him. "When I walked into the changing room today, it felt like coming home," he wrote.

"I know the club inside out, I've always been very close to the fans here and I've never lost contact with the people in charge. I can’t wait to see my teammates again, get out on the pitch, play football with a smile on my face, get assists, score goals and help the club qualify for the Champions League."

Sancho initially joined Dortmund in 2017 as a bright-eyed teen from Manchester City. In his four-year stint in Germany he netted 50 goals in 137 appearances, not only cementing his place as an England regular but also as one of European football's top wingers.

In 2021, after sealing a whopping £73million move to United, Sancho penned a heartfelt goodbye to Dortmund, emphasising his deep connection to the club and his love for the local culture and lifestyle. "The love I will always have for this iconic club will never be matched," he wrote.

"From the very first moment I walked into the stadium I felt at home and knew I had made the right decision. I was welcomed with open arms by everyone associated with the club. Moving to Germany was not only football, I had to adapt to a new lifestyle and culture... I've always wanted to showcase my talent on the global stage and Dortmund gave me the opportunity to do so, for that I will forever be grateful."

Sancho's beaming remarks suggest that a loan move to Dortmund could prove beneficial for Rashford.

Following United's 2-1 triumph over City on Sunday, the former Sporting CP manager made it clear that he would be selecting players based on their form and effort levels in training. He also suggested that players who get dropped will always been given the chance to fight their way back into his starting line-up.

"Next week, next game, new life," he told reporters. "They (Rashford and Garnacho) are fighting for their places but for me it's important, the performance in training, the performance in game, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you engage with team-mates, the way you push your team-mates. Everything is important when we want to change a lot of things.

"They have to fight for a place in the team and today the team proved we can leave anyone out of the squad and manage to win if you play together... When people in the club are losing their jobs, we have to push our standards really high."

Dortmund aren't the only ones with an eye on Rashford's future. Arsenal have previously shown interest, though a January approach seems unlikely given the fact they signed Raheem Sterling on loan last summer. PSG, too, have been admirers of Rashford, but after a failed attempt to sign him in 2023, their interest appears to have waned.

Rashford, who shares the spot as United's second-top scorer alongside Rasmus Hojlund with seven goals across all competitions this season, has netted three of his four Premier League goals since Amorim took charge, suggesting his form is on an upward curve. He's expected to return matchday squad for United's Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Tottenham on Thursday.

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