This morning's announcement that Erik ten Hag will take over as Manchester United manager at the end of the season brought to an end weeks of speculation surrounding the Dutchman's appointment.
It is believed that Ten Hag was brutally honest regarding the current playing squad during his interview, an attribute which clearly impressed the United hierarchy.
Rumours have already started to spread as to which players the current Ajax boss wishes to remain as part of his rebuild next season and a host of exits seem likely this summer.
Nemanja Matic is already confirmed to be leaving the club and he is likely to be joined by the likes of Edinson Cavani, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard, who all see their contracts expire at the end of the season.
Other exits that have been touted include Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly, all of whom are currently under contract and would command a fee.
Rumours of Rashford's exit is perhaps the most high profile of them all, with the England international currently in the midst of a poor run of form which has seen him hit the net just five times this season.
It was claimed earlier this season that Rashford had informed interim boss Ralf Rangnick of his desire to leave his boyhood club at the end of the season, which alerted the interest of both Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
Both are long term admirers of the 24-year-old, and Spanish media outlet SPORT claim that Barcelona are ready to swoop this summer.
The report states that Rashford still wishes to depart Old Trafford and is keen to switch the Premier League for La Liga. Contact has been made in the past and, despite financial difficulties, a transfer could be pursued once the transfer window reopens in July.
However, Ten Hag is believed to be a big fan of the academy graduate and would surely be reluctant to let the player leave before giving him an opportunity in his revised side next season.
Rashford scored over 20 goals in successive seasons under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and had surgery on his shoulder following England's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy last summer.
He returned in the 4-2 defeat against Leicester City in October and scored three times in his first four appearances of the season. Since then though, a loss of confidence and form has hit Rashford hard and he has found himself on the fringes of the squad under Rangnick.
Barcelona's interest in the player is strong, although they could switch their attention to Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski if Rashford remains in Manchester.
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