How do you replace Kylian Mbappe? It is a puzzle Paris Saint-Germain are going to have to try and solve this forthcoming summer.. After seven years in the French capital, the 25-year-old will leave the club at the end of the season and almost certainly join Real Madrid. He will leave a gaping hole in PSG’s attack that they have somehow got to try and fill with a player of similar ilk.. Not for the first time, Manchester United academy graduate Marcus Rashford is being linked with succeeding the French international. Reports elsewhere this week have suggested that PSG are ‘preparing’ a £75million offer to test United’s resolve.. READ MORE: Gareth Southgate explains Kobbie Mainoo omission from England squad. READ MORE: United have been told what they wanted to hear about transfer target Jarrad Branthwaite. The French club have been long-term admirers of Rashford, holding talks with his brother and agent Dwaine Maynard back in August 2021. PSG, however, never submitted an official offer for the England international. There was suspicion the rendezvous with PSG was a negotiating tactic to put pressure on United to offer Rashford a new contract, which he earned in July last year, keeping him at the club until 2028.. Rashford was worthy of earning a new long-term deal last summer after plundering 30 goals. It was the first time he had reached such landmark in his career and he became the first United player since Robin van Persie a decade earlier to reach such an illustrious figure.. This season, Rashford is running out of time to reach double figures. His penalty in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Everton marked just his seventh goal of the campaign in all competitions.. Like so many of his teammates, the 26-year-old has failed to perform at the peak of his powers this season, getting nowhere remotely close to the levels he hit last term. Erik ten Hag, somewhat ambitiously, said at the end of last season he felt Rashford was capable of scoring 40 goals a season.. There is no doubt Rashford is an outstanding talent. His goal in the derby against Manchester City earlier this month was a reminder of his capabilities.. That is why it is hard to make a firm judgement on whether or not United should cash-in this summer in the event of PSG knocking on their door with a lucrative offer. His contract situation means the Reds will be within their rights, as they should, to demand a big-money fee if PSG select him as their top target to replace Mbappe.. Marcus Rashford (right) is being linked with the possibility of replacing Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain. (Image: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images.). However, as much as a big-money cash injection could be useful for United in the event of them missing out on Champions League qualification for next season, Rashford is still a player who has the capabilities to flourish at Old Trafford and continue with his quest to leave a lasting legacy at his boyhood club. Last season demonstrated what he is capable of producing.. As United prepare to embark on a new era under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos, Rashford should be thinking he can cement himself as one of the players the club can be rebuilt around. He is United through and through and, just like Ratcliffe, will want the very best for the club to enable it to move forward.. At the same time, he is one of the most valuable players in the squad that will command a fee capable of assisting with balancing the books in relation to Financial Fair Play [FFP]. United need to cut their cloth this summer and outgoings are set to be more forthcoming than in previous years.. Looking at Rashford’s situation and his role at United in isolation, there is no right or wrong answer. There are huge benefits in keeping him, but there are also arguments to suggest a high profile sale has its pluses, provided United are presented with a good price.. Rashford is better than both Jadon Sancho and Antony, who cost United north of £70m and £80m each respectively, meaning United could demand £100m plus. It could be a hard call to make and only time will tell what the best decision is.
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