‘Marcus wants to stay’ - Erik ten Hag confident Rashford will sign new Man Utd contract

Erik ten Hag is increasingly confident Marcus Rashford will commit his future to Manchester United despite the striker’s protracted contract saga.

The England international’s current deal expires at the end of next season and United have been trying for some time to tie him to a long-term contract.

But talks have dragged on as United attempt to avoid Rashford entering his final season with potential free agency on the horizon.

Ten Hag admitted he knew the reasons for the current impasse but would not elaborate, despite his optimism about a new deal being agreed.

“Yes, I know [why], but I don’t talk about the process. Let the process go,” Ten Hag said.

“Once again, this is not important at the moment for me or Rashy. For him, it is to get more goals this season and he is playing a wonderful season and the team is playing a wonderful season. We have to get into the Champions League and focus on that.

“Marcus wants to stay and we want him to stay, so I think we will find each other.”

Although the 25-year-old has enjoyed the best season of his career, with 29 goals to date, he has scored just two in his last 10 United appearances and one in his last seven.

And, with United generally finding goals so difficult to come by, his expected absence at Bournemouth with illness would be a blow on a day when Ten Hag could clinch Champions League football, should United win and Liverpool lose at home to Aston Villa.

United also have next month’s FA Cup final with Manchester City to look forward to, and the chance to stop their rivals emulating United’s 1999 team in clinching the treble.

“When we have three games and it’s gone, yes, I will enjoy it,” said Ten Hag. “Before that, it is not important at all.

“I think we have to keep doing what we have all season, improve every day and improve every game and not look too far ahead. Focusing on the next game is the most important.”