Manchester United could start Ruben Amorim squad rebuild earlier than expected

Manchester United even considering the possibility of selling Marcus Rashford is a long overdue shift in transfer strategy from the Old Trafford powerbrokers. A deal to let go of one of the club's brightest lights from the academy would have felt unthinkable for a long time.

Rashford was long the poster boy at Old Trafford, and having wracked up 426 appearances by the age of 27, all sorts of records were on the table for a player who was a boyhood United fan. But the relationship has been fraying for a while and it might now be a shrewd business decision to consider a departure, especially with the player opening the door for a move.

Whatever the off-pitch issues and concerns around Rashford, there is a dilemma on the pitch as well. For all his protestations, he isn't a natural fit in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system and no longer commands a role in United's strongest XI. That is a problem when you are the squad's highest-paid player.

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Creating a market for Rashford won't be easy, given his form hasn't lived up to his salary for more than a year now, but as a one-time - and perhaps future - England international with a positive image, he will still have his suitors. Any fee United can bring in would be considered pure profit in the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules, and the salary savings would also be significant.

This is finally the heart ruling head for United when it comes to recruitment decisions, and it could come at a good time for Amorim as he tries to put his own stamp on the squad. He has done a good job of reshaping