Marcus Rashford’s new contract is a sure sign of the uncertainty surrounding Manchester United

THERE are many reasons why Alexis Sanchez’s move to Manchester United 18 months ago has gone done as one of the worst moves in Premier League history. For starters, the Chilean joined a club that had no place for him. United had holes, gaping ones, in their squad, but the left side of attack was where they appeared best stocked. Secondly, Sanchez was signed by a manager (Jose Mourinho) who had no idea how to use him.

But perhaps the most damaging aspect of Sanchez’s switch from Arsenal in January 2018 was his contract, worth a reported £400,000-a-week, and the way it disrupted the Old Trafford dressing room. United are still feeling the effect of this with star players like David de Gea and Paul Pogba using Sanchez’s salary as leverage in their own contract negotiations. If the Chilean, a player not even good enough to hold down a starting spot, is being paid so much, why shouldn’t the few world class talents on their books receive the same?

The respective futures of both de Gea and Pogba are still to be settled, with the former supposedly in talks with the club and the latter determined to leave for Italy or Spain. However, this week did see Marcus Rashford tied down on a long-term contract, putting pen to paper on a deal that will keep him at the club until 2023.

Manchester is my home. United is my team. Proud to have signed a new contract at the club ⚽ #MUFC pic.twitter.com/3Xr5OInDhl

— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) July 1, 2019

But while this is undoubtedly good news for Man Utd, Rashford’s pay-packet suggests nothing has been learned from the mistakes made in negotiating Sanchez’s contract. Reports suggest the 21-year-old forward will be paid somewhere between £200,000 and £300,000 a week, making him one of the highest paid players in the Premier League.

Indeed, Rashford will be paid £20,000-a-week more than Raheem Sterling. Virgil Van Dijk receives £150,000-a-week. Just as was the case with Sanchez’s contract, a precedent has been set. Now, players of similar stature to Rashford, players like Jesse Lingard perhaps, will use the striker’s new deal as a yardstick.

Of course, Rashford might argue that the £250,000-a-week contract Anthony Martial signed last season or the £200,000-a-week deal Luke Shaw received last year entitles him to be paid so handsomely. But with every hyper-inflated contract Man Utd hand out, they make keeping their best players happy and signing new players, harder for themselves. 

The highest paid players in the Premier League (Yearly salary):

1⃣ De Bruyne: £16.68m 2⃣ Sánchez: £16.38m 3⃣ Pogba: £15.08m 4⃣ Özil: £13.97m 5⃣ Martial: £13m 6⃣ Rashford: £12m 7⃣ Salah: £10.4m 7⃣ De Gea: £10.4m 7⃣ Kane: £10.4m Lacazette: £9.46m pic.twitter.com/hL280bnAhy

— Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) July 2, 2019

It’s true that Rashford was one of the players Man Utd needed to secure for the future. Supporters had started to worry about the veracity of rumours linking him with Barcelona. The loss of a homegrown star, a childhood fan of the club, would have served a damning indictment of United’s current position.

And yet there is scant reason to believe United have paid a fair price to keep Rashford. This is, after all, a player who has been outscored by Bournemouth’s Josh King in each of the last four seasons. The 21-year-old enjoyed his best season in front of goal last term, but doubts persist over his ability to lead the line as an out-and-out centre forward. 

Rashford’s new contract is far better value than Sanchez’s £400,000-a-week deal ever was. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ed Woodward would surely argue that this is an investment in the future. That argument was never applicable to Sanchez. The Chilean was signed for the here and now, and so far his here and now has been grossly underwhelming.

Nonetheless, this is just another case of Manchester United digging a deeper hole for themselves. While their rivals spend smartly (in the context of an inflated transfer market), United still appear to have no clue what to do with their money. Whether it is a symptom or another cause of future strife, Rashford’s new contract is a sign of this.