Marcus Rashford given Man United ultimatum as Sir Jim Ratcliffe learns £85.5m transfer incentive

Simon Jordan has encouraged Marcus Rashford to leave the 'goldfish bowl of Manchester United' ahead of the summer transfer window. The 26-year-old has been heavily linked with an exit from Old Trafford for a while now as he continues to disappoint for the Red Devils.

Rashford, who sees his contract expire in 2028, has featured 27 times for Erik ten Hag's side in the Premier League this season, scoring seven goals and providing three assists. While the England international has helped Manchester United mount a bid for Champions League qualification, he's struggled to reach the same heights he once enjoyed.

Rashford once prided himself as one of the top forwards in Europe, establishing himself as a regular in the England starting lineup at major tournaments. Now, he's fallen down the pecking order at St George's Park – yet the CIES Football Observatory still value him at €100million (£85.5m).

READ MORE: Mainoo is about to fulfil Erik ten Hag's promise for United

READ MORE: United relaxed over Mainoo talks due to contract expiry date

With Rashford struggling and Sir Jim Ratcliffe eager to bolster the Red Devils squad in the upcoming transfer window, Jordan has explained why a move would benefit both the player and the club. In a column for the Daily Mail, the former Crystal Palace owner and talkSPORT pundit said: "He came off the bench for 15 minutes against Brazil and didn’t get on against Belgium.

"He’s not been a central figure for some time and his career appears to be going backwards. He’s become an impact substitute, someone who can come on for the last 20 minutes when the game is stretched. He might not like it but that’s where he is at the moment.

"I do, however, find a lot of what has been said about Rashford unfair. He’s not a world-class player so I always felt that judging him by those standards put him in a position where he’s always going to fall short. What he needs to do is apply himself, look like he’s interested, engaged and motivated again otherwise he may never reach the levels we saw from him at the beginning of his career.

"For whatever reason, whether it’s the life that he leads or the way he views the world, the pressure of playing for United or having too much money and too many distractions, I don’t see a player who has evolved," he continued.

"The best we saw of him was at the start of his career and a brief rally last season. It’s certainly hard to argue he has become a better player in the last five years. I think he’s got worse, I don’t see any area of his game that has developed. Normally when you get older and move into your prime in sport, and in life, you get better or you find your level. I would suggest he’s found his level.

"For a man who protests to love Manchester United so much it’s a difficult situation but I think it’s perhaps time for him to move on. He’s run his course at Old Trafford and could flourish again at a new club," he explained.

"There has been endless links to Paris Saint-Germain which could be an option if it’s a move he’d be interested in. He won’t go short of a bob or two in France, he’ll win league titles, play in the Champions League and be away from the goldfish bowl of United and the British media.

"That has its benefits. But I don’t see him moving to a top-six rival which speaks volumes about where both he and United currently are, so he’s limited to potential interest from overseas."