Man Utd news: Marcus Rashford swap deal proposed as Michael Carrick set to axe four players

Michael Carrick’s first full summer as Manchester United’s permanent manager has already delivered three senior arrivals, with further additions possible, but the Old Trafford exit door is now ajar for a quartet of first-team players. With pre-season fixtures under way and the transfer window down to its final weeks, Carrick’s squad is being reshaped—on both sides of the ledger.

Rashford’s future hinges on a swap that could unlock Kone

Marcus Rashford remains in limbo after his season-long loan at Barcelona ended without the £26 million purchase option being triggered. Neither club now sees a permanent move as straightforward, yet a route back to Catalonia appears closed after Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi’s arrivals. Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Rashford could still facilitate a deal for Manchester United’s primary midfield target, Manu Kone, by heading to Roma in exchange.

The Italian club need a left-sided forward and are constrained by Financial Fair Play, making Rashford’s £350,000-per-week wages a potential makeweight to offset Kone’s reported £51 million fee and wage demands. Roma’s requirement aligns with Rashford’s profile, while United would gain a midfielder who impressed at the World Cup for France. The swap would allow Carrick to address a clear positional need without triggering a fresh cash outlay, while freeing up wage capacity that has proved difficult to shift.

Four players face the axe as Carrick pares down the roster

Goalkeeper Radek Vitek, defender Harry Amass, and midfielders Dan Gore and Toby Collyer are all set to leave Old Trafford this summer, according to the Daily Mail. Vitek, the 21-year-old Czech shot-stopper, has featured in pre-season but appears surplus to requirements after United’s recruitment of Karl Darlow. Amass, a 20-year-old left-back, has struggled to dislodge established options, while Gore and Collyer, both 20, have seen limited first-team opportunities under Carrick. Their departures underscore a broader squad overhaul that has already seen the arrivals of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Karl Darlow, with further incomings possible.

The four players now face the reality of finding new clubs before the window slams shut. Their exits reflect Carrick’s determination to mould a squad that meets his physical and technical demands, with the manager having already outlined his vision for a high-pressing, transitional style that prioritises athleticism and tactical discipline.

Arsenal’s Guimarães dilemma mirrors United’s Rashford conundrum

Bruno Guimarães’ future is also in flux, with Arsenal circling and Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe admitting neither the club nor the player fully controls proceedings. Howe stated that any prolonged distraction would be “unhealthy,” yet the midfielder’s camp is weighing a move to north London. The parallels with Rashford are striking: both are high-profile talents whose clubs appear uncertain about their long-term role, and both face a summer of uncertainty that could reshape their careers.

Rashford’s situation is the more immediate concern for United. After turning down a move to PSG years ago and extending his stay, he now faces a summer of uncertainty. His Barcelona loan showed glimpses of his best form, but Carrick’s system demands versatility and pressing intensity that cannot be taken for granted. A swap to Roma would at least guarantee minutes elsewhere, while United pursue Kone to bolster a midfield that Mount and Santos have impressed in pre-season.

Elsewhere, the Premier League’s transfer market remains fluid. Liverpool are closing in on a winger, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola still on their radar, while Arsenal continue to explore options including Ollie Watkins, with Manchester United also linked. The window’s final weeks will decide whether Rashford exits via swap, whether Guimarães secures his move, and which of United’s fringe players land elsewhere.

Carrick’s first full season in charge begins with a clearer picture of who remains and who departs. The Rashford-Kone swap, if completed, would reshape both squads while freeing up wages and wages. For the players facing exits, the coming days offer one last chance to secure their futures. For those staying, the challenge is to justify their place in a squad that Carrick is determined to mould in his image.