MANCHESTER, England – Erik ten Hag has said Manchester United intend to retain Marcus Rashford this summer despite the financial benefit of sanctioning the England striker's departure.
Advancing Rashford would boost United's Financial Fair Play compliance because the rules favor clubs receiving transfer fees for academy graduates.
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This has led Chelsea to consider bids for Conor Gallagher despite the England international playing a key role at Stamford Bridge this season.
United's financial situation has been described as “tight” ahead of the summer window, but Ten Hag said Rashford, who signed a new contract in July, will remain at Old Trafford.
“We didn't sign him last season for four years with the intention of selling him now,” Ten Hag said at a press conference on Friday.
“He should be part of this project. It's not something we don't talk about.”
United face Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday aiming to knock Jurgen Klopp's side out of the FA Cup.
Ten Hag is hoping to have Rasmus Højlund, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka available, while Mason Mount has also returned to training after missing the last four months with a calf injury.
“We had a good week,” Ten Hag said.
“The players you mention [Højlund, Maguire and Wan-Bissaka] returned to the field of play, partly at the beginning of the week and today [Friday] They had a session and they were all training.
“We have one more session and we have to see how they recover from this, but he looks good. Mason Mount trained all week with us. He had a few full sessions with us, so he looks good.”
Klopp is still chasing four trophies in his final season at Anfield, while Ten Hag is looking to clinch the FA Cup to salvage an otherwise disappointing campaign.
Liverpool, who sit second in the Premier League table, come in on a nine-game unbeaten run but Ten Hag stopped short of saying the visitors are favorites ahead of the FA Cup quarter-finals.
“It's difficult,” Ten Hag said. “I never think about who the favorite is. We'll make sure we're ready and I don't think about the opponents, it's about playing our game. It's about this.
“We know where the strengths are, but we know it's about us.”
The last time the two teams met was at Anfield in December, and the fierce rivals played out a goalless draw. Klopp said he believes his team has improved since then.
“I don't know if we will play the same game. [as December’s draw]”Klopp said at a press conference on Friday.
“We really reached the next level in the season. [after that]. Before it was difficult to judge ourselves, we had a lot to overcome, red cards, being 1-0 down and then that game. [against United] I saw that it was really us in the next march.
“The result didn't show it. It's a home game for them, but there were a lot of aspects in our game that were good and we tried to bring them on the field again. Maybe we'll do some things differently.”
