Marcus Rashford left with just one transfer option to end Manchester United stalemate

Manchester United and Marcus Rashford are facing up to a period where one of their best-paid stars is in the cold for months, as a suitable move has yet to present itself and only Juventus looks like a possible option this January.

The club have fielded a number of informal enquiries for the forward since he announced he was open to leaving in December, but Rashford wants to ensure any move is one that fits his preferences.

That involves the chance to compete for trophies this season, while also at a level high enough to persuade England manager Thomas Tuchel that he should be brought back into the international fold.

Rashford’s demands have essentially ensured only two options are currently being considered: Juventus, on loan until the end of the season, and Barcelona as a permanent move in the future.

The Catalan club have long been Rashford's ideal destination, with interest going back to 2018, but Spain's financial rules mean they cannot do any deal in this window without considerable sales.

Rashford is known to have little interest in the English suitors so far like Tottenham and West Ham. While Borussia Dortmund had seemed like a viable option, especially given former teammate Jadon Sancho's success there on loan, the prospect of a deal was way off.

One of the primary issues has been over wage, and what percentage any club would take. Very few want to go close to even 50 per cent of his £300,000-plus weekly package at United.

While there has been much criticism of Ruben Amorim's remarks on Sunday due to the potential for further lowering Rashford's value, and weakening United's hand, the reality is that everyone in the market already knew the situation. That was made clear by the fact he hasn't played for United since early December.

The player is nevertheless understood to have been surprised by the strength of Amorim's comments, especially given his willingness to stay at United and prove himself.