Manchester United face tricky Marcus Rashford puzzle with time running out on his legacy hope

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