Manchester United are linked with five players in a ‘youth’ and ‘data’ recruitment drive under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, while Paris Saint-Germain are sniffing around Marcus Rashford as their Kylian Mbappe replacement. 
 
PERSISTENT RASH
There’s various talk of ‘stumbling blocks’ and ‘hurdles’ as news outlets try to milk the Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid transfer for all it’s worth, but it is going to happen, and Paris Saint-Germain will need a replacement.

AC Milan’s Rafael Leao has been linked along with Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig, but the French giants could also reignite interest in one of their former targets, Marcus Rashford.
The England international isn’t having the best time of it under Erik ten Hag, neither on the pitch nor off it, but dips in form weren’t previously an issue for PSG, who last made an attempt to lure Rashford from Old Trafford in the summer of 2022, on the back of a season in which the forward managed just four Premier League goals.
Caughtoffside claim the Ligue 1 side are ‘ready to make an approach for Rashford’, but only if he indicates that he wants to leave United, having felt they were previously used as leverage by him to earn a more lucrative contract with his boyhood club.
“Marcus Rashford is also a historical PSG target. The club were keen prior to Rashford extending his stay at Old Trafford, but after taking meetings in Paris they felt they were being used as leverage,” transfer expert Ben Jacobs revealed.

Rashford signed a new deal at Old Trafford worth £300,000 per week in July, committing his future to the club until 2028.
Jacobs added: “Rashford is still committed to Manchester United, but a summer swoop from PSG can’t be entirely ruled out. However, Rashford would first have to indicate he has changed his stance on leaving otherwise PSG don’t want to waste time trying for a transfer without clear player buy in.”
 
‘DATA’ AND ‘YOUTH’
Whether Rashford stays or goes, new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to overhaul the squad in the summer, and The I claim his team have decided to focus on ‘data’ and ‘youth’ in their drive to improve the team.
Those two metrics have led them Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise and Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton, both of whom have been hugely impressive this season.
Branthwaite spent last season on loan at PSV Eindhoven, where he earned rave reviews from the manager and former Red Devil Ruud van Nistelrooy, before returning to Goodison Park and becoming a stalwart in Sean Dyche’s side.

And Olise has been one of the standout wingers in the Premier League this season, contributing to nine goals in 11 league games for Palace.
 
MAN UTD PENNY-PINCHING
In a further use of data, rudimentary though this particular data set is – to the extent where a very quick Google can provide the answers, United are also keeping a close eye on players with expiring contracts.
With a view to operating within the bounds of the Premier League profit and sustainability rules, Ratcliffe and his team are keen to sign quality players on the cheap and targeting those at the end of their contracts may mean they’re able to land them for nothing, or at least in cut-price deals.

Who is every Premier League club’s most influential player? Surprises for Man Utd, Arsenal…

Perhaps Manchester United won’t miss Lisandro Martinez quite as much if Victor Lindelof is back. And Arsenal’s most influential player is one of their most maligned…
The most influential player or a good luck charm? We’ve looked at the points per match (PPM) leader at every Premier League club. Players must have started at least 10 games to make the cut. Thanks to FBref for the numbers.
Arsenal: Kai Havertz – 2.23
Of Mikel Arteta’s regulars, Havertz is just ahead of Oleksandr Zinchenko (2.19) and Martin Odegaard (2.15). Weren’t expecting that, were you? Havertz isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, especially when leading the line, but Arteta clearly trusts him. And the German offers a clear Plan B if the Arsenal boss doesn’t fancy Gabriel Jesus for any particular assignment.
 
Aston Villa: Pau Torres – 2.28
Torres has been massive for Unai Emery since he arrived in the summer, prompting questions of every other Premier League club who looked but never took the punt. It is unlikely to be a coincidence that Villa have won only one – and that was against Sheffield United – of their five matches without him in recent weeks.
 
Bournemouth: Adam Smith – 1.71
Perhaps Smith’s ascent in Andoni Iraola’s estimation is no coincidence either. The defender struggled to get a game at the start of the season but Smith becoming a regular sparked a seven-game unbeaten run. The 32-year-old has missed only one game since Bonfire Night – the 4-0 shellacking at home to Liverpool.

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Brentford: Bryan Mbeumo – 1.27
Mbeumo’s absence – especially before Ivan Toney’s return – was huge, but there were signs before the Cameroon striker’s ankle injury that the Bees were starting to struggle, losing three of the last four matches for which he was available. Since Mbeumo has been missing Brentford have slipped from the comfort of mid-table towards a relegation fight. It doesn’t help that they can’t hold on to a lead.
 
Brighton: Bart Verbruggen – 1.60
Pervis Estupinan is one start away from being eligible here and with 1.82PPG, the left-back would be a more credible choice than one of Brighton’s two job-sharing goalkeepers.
 
Burnley: Jordan Beyer – 0.73
The German centre-back has been one of Burnley’s more reliable performers – when he’s been fit. Beyer was injured against Villa in the last game of last year. “Hopefully he’ll be back for the Luton game,” said Vincent Kompany. That was almost a month ago and still no sign of the defender.

Chelsea: Levi Colwill – 1.50
It is hard to think of any Chelsea player that isn’t dispensable but in Colwill’s absence in the last two games, the Blues have shipped eight goals.
 
Crystal Palace: Eberechi Eze – 1.38
If Eze and Michael Olise didn’t keep getting injured, Roy Hodgson wouldn’t be under the pressure currently piled upon him. One, maybe both, will be gone in the summer. Palace just need to hope they leave them as a Premier League club.
 
Everton: Abdoulaye Doucoure – 1.50
The Everton midfielder is marginally ahead of Jack Harrison (1.47). Doucoure has played only one of the last six, none of which Everton have won.
 
Fulham: Calvin Bassey – 1.33
The £19million summer signing from Ajax has missed seven games after the opening weekend and Fulham haven’t won any of them. Tosin Adarabioyo (1.36) was a single start from pipping Bassey.
 
Liverpool: Darwin Nunez – 2.32

Nunez brings points as well as chaos though Wataru Endo (2.4) deserves a mention despite being two starts short of being eligible. Jurgen Klopp thought he could do without Nunez at Arsenal, a decision he admitted was a mistake: “Maybe. But I understand it if you are right… We did not play enough football.”
He can’t finish, mind.
 
Luton: Gabriel Osho – 1.25
The Hatters defender missed the first nine games of the season because of a knee injury but since his return, Osho has started every game but one while Luton continue to impress. The 25-year-old is no longer flying under the radar, with Aston Villa reported to be watching him.
 
Manchester City: Rodri – 2.58
City are reliant on Rodri. More on this breaking news as we get it.
 
Manchester United: Victor Lindelof – 2.08
For all the talk of Lisandro Martinez being United’s MVP, it turns out Lindelof is their lucky charm so it’s handy that the Sweden defender made his return against West Ham shortly after the Argentine hobbled down the tunnel. Scott McTominay then Harry Maguire follow Lindelof – one in the eye for those who wanted all three gone last summer.

 
Newcastle: Nick Pope – 1.86
No one doubted what a loss Pope would be when he knacked his shoulder towards the end of the win over Manchester United at the start of December. Since then, the arse has fallen out of the Magpies’ season, winning only two of their last nine while keeping just a single clean sheet.
 
Nottingham Forest: Matt Turner – 1.00
This one is rather more surprising. Danilo (1.06) just misses out with nine starts, and Turner’s influence hasn’t been as positive as this might suggest. Hence the reason Forest went on a mad pre-deadline dash for a goalkeeper. Gary Neville was very harsh to pin Turner as ‘useless’, but you would struggle to find many with much positive to say about his contribution this season.
 
Sheffield United: George Baldock – 0.55
The right-back has missed more games (12) than he’s played (11) and the Blades have missed him. With Baldock, perhaps the Blades would not have been quite as s***. As it is, they’re sweating on staying off this list.
 
Tottenham: James Maddison – 2.31
Of course the Premier League’s most creative player carries the biggest influence at Spurs.

James Maddison is back for Spurs.
© Provided by Football365
West Ham: Lucas Paqueta – 1.83
Likewise, Paqueta is the Hammers’ creative heartbeat, so it’s little wonder they have flatlined since the Brazilian has been sidelined with a calf problem. Prior to that, West Ham won three on the spin, beating Man Utd, Arsenal and Wolves. Since Paqueta’s injury, they haven’t won in four.

 
Wolves: Pablo Sarabia – 1.63
Sarabia had to apologise for his use of the ponder emoji on social media when he was left as an unused substitute against Fulham in November. Since then, he’s played a role in all 10 Premier League games, scoring once and creating three more amid a fine run that has propelled Wolves into the top half.
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Neville: Man Utd star should be ‘dominating’ Rashford as ‘dejected’ defender has been ‘undermined’

Former Man Utd defender Gary Neville thinks the Red Devils dressing room needs more leaders for young players coming into the first team.
The Red Devils had a promising first season under Erik ten Hag as the Dutchman guided Man Utd to an FA Cup final, League Cup silverware and a top-four finish in the Premier League.

However, this campaign has not gone to plan with Man Utd crashing out of Europe before Christmas and the club drifting in the Premier League until recently.
Seven points from their last three matches against Tottenham, Wolves and West Ham has seen them move up the table into sixth position.
One positive in recent weeks has been the form of Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho with all three players making big contributions.
Despite that, Neville is concerned that the current Man Utd youngsters don’t have the same support that young players used to have at Old Trafford.
READ MORE: Better to be small-time like Arsenal than Man Utd asking for taxpayers’ money
“It’s a massive factor, the dressing room that you come into as a young player and the influence and standard bearers in the dressing room,” Neville said on the Stick to Football podcast.

“These United lads who have come through in the last five to eight years, if you’re a young lad coming through at Liverpool and Manchester City you’ve got a good chance, whereas if you’re at United now, you’re thinking whose guiding that dressing room.
“Roy Keane only started to assume the mantle of being the dominant inspirational character at the age of 26 at Manchester United, but Marcus Rashford is nothing like Roy Keane in personality or character.”
Marcus Rashford was recently dropped and fined for missing training after a night out in Belfast and Roy Keane thinks Man Utd need more players willing to dish out “tough love” to team-mates.
Keane added: “We’re talking about plenty of players when we played who would happily give tough love.
“But clearly no one is doing that at Manchester United for Marcus Rashford and that is one of the problems that the team has, they don’t have that core group of players.”

Harry Maguire was dropped as captain over the summer by Ten Hag and Neville feels the England international will feel “undermined” by the Man Utd boss.
“Casemiro should be dominating Rashford. I don’t think he [Maguire] would be getting hold of Rashford,” Neville continued.
“He’s not even playing. Harry’s been undermined in that dressing room since having the captaincy taken off him. He must feel completely dejected by what’s happened.”

Man Utd: Ratcliffe hit with setback to his exciting ‘Wembley of the North’ plans

Incoming Man Utd stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has seen a major blow to his plans to part fund a new stadium with government money.
A report emerged on Tuesday that Ratcliffe was planning on a total rebuild of Old Trafford and is keen to make the stadium the ‘Wembley of the North’.

The Daily Telegraph also claimed that his plans ‘could yet seek to lobby the UK Government for funds amid Westminster’s “Levelling Up” pledges’, to the fury of some fans from other clubs.
A source told the newspaper: “He feels the club need an absolute state-of-the-art, knock-it-out-of-the-park, ‘wow’ stadium.
“And we feel there’s a strong argument for the country having a top-class major venue in the North – a Wembley of the North.”
But former sports minister Tracey Crouch MP insists public funds would not be available for such a project after there was no bailout of Bury when they faced financial ruin.
READ MORE: Who is every Premier League club’s most influential player? Surprises for Man Utd, Arsenal…
“Sir Jim Ratcliffe knew what he was taking on when he bought into Manchester United,” Crouch told City A.M.
“Old Trafford may need upgrading to meet today’s standards, but funding should not come out of the taxpayer’s pocket to benefit the billionaires who own the club – especially as other clubs like Bury have faced ruin, devastating the town around them, with no bailout from the public purse.”
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But Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, had a contrasting message in recent weeks, he said: “We are absolutely standing behind the club.
“Whatever it is they want, we will facilitate and we will be there to make sure the club is set up for the future. There is exciting potential.”
Gary Neville has been a critic of the Glazers for the “shameful” state they have left Old Trafford in over recent years.
“The Glazer family have, for years, been warned about a lack of investment in Old Trafford,” Neville said.
“They have overseen a decline for 20 years in which it has gone from being one of the best stadiums in the world to one that can’t even get into the top 10 in the UK and Ireland. This is an all-time low.
“That it is not in the best ten to host a tournament is a joke. There has been no investment. It is a rusty stadium. This is a dereliction of duty. It is shameful.”

Speaking a year ago, he also gave his reaction to a potential full rebuild of Old Trafford, Neville added: “There is a story emerging from Old Trafford that they might rebuild the entire stadium and I have just been asked what I think of it.
“I actually think that it would be the right move.
“I think by the time that they have spent money on Old Trafford, the existing one, then I think you would be better off building a brand new, better, super stadium.
“I do think that Manchester United should always be at the forefront of stadiums. Have the best facilities and they have fallen behind.”