Michael Carrick is keen to bring Marcus Rashford back to Manchester United - should he be appointed as the club's next permanent manager. Carrick has enjoyed a fantastic start to his tenure as interim boss, having taken over from Ruben Amorim following his dismissal. The former midfielder has overseen just two matches, but has secured a couple of impressive wins against Manchester City and Arsenal.
This has already sparked suggestions that Carrick might be given the role permanently at the season's conclusion. Should that materialise, the Telegraph reports that he would be interested in welcoming Rashford back into the Old Trafford set-up. Rashford was frozen out by Amorim, who declared he would prefer to field the 63-year-old goalkeeping coach rather than the England striker. He moved to Aston Villa on loan at the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign, before switching to Barcelona for this season.
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The La Liga heavyweights have the option to make the move permanent, with all indications pointing to them triggering the £26million clause. Nevertheless, Carrick, who featured alongside Rashford during his final playing years, still believes there's a role for him at his childhood club.
The same report indicates that the player himself would prefer to remain with Barcelona though, where he has netted nine goals and provided 12 assists thus far this season.
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Following his midweek Champions League strike, Rashford acknowledged that adapting to manager Hansi Flick's playing philosophy has required significant adjustment. "I think for the front guys we have to put as much pressure on the ball as possible because the problem is when players have time on the ball to pick the passes and to see what our backline is doing," he explained.
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"If they do have time then the backline have to adjust. But it's our way of playing, it brings an intensity to the game. I think when we play at this intensity it's difficult for teams to match us.
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"For me it takes a little bit of learning to get used to because you can't let them rest on the ball. Whoever is closest to the ball always has to put pressure. So it's a little bit different to what I'd done before. But this is the style of defence we play and when it works it's really good."
Flick has consistently lavished praise on Rashford and suggested that the ultimate decision regarding his future will rest with sporting director Deco.
He commented: "Marcus' performances have been really good until now, so we have to manage it, but it's Deco's job to do things for next season.
"We have to wait. We have months to go. For me, of course with Marcus we have a player on the top level, but also with our situation, and what I appreciate a lot from him [is his desire to be here]." Regarding the January window, United appear poised to remain inactive, avoiding any significant signings with major departures also seeming unlikely.
Joshua Zirkzee had been rumoured to potentially return to Italy, but Carrick has indicated his desire for the player to stay at the club.
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"Josh is just trying to work to get fit and get around the group," he explained on Friday. "It has been great to have him back training with the group for the first time."
"That is as far as it goes, for me and for Josh. I am looking forward to working with him. That's it, nothing else has been needed to be said."