Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford reportedly rejected a staggering £400,000-a-week contract offer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
For a short while, a question mark was hanging over the 25-year-old's future at the Theatre of Dreams amid a difficult period in the 2021-22 season.
PSG were believed to have been heavily interested in Rashford, who was also tipped to head to Arsenal after losing his goalscoring touch under Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
However, Erik ten Hag made his desire to keep Rashford known, and the England international has been one of the success stories of the season for the Red Devils.
Having rediscovered his best form, Man United exercised their option to extend Rashford's contract by another year, but he is yet to agree to a new long-term deal.
© Reuters
As things stand, the Englishman could depart as a free agent in 2024, and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi talked up the prospect of Rashford joining the French champions during the World Cup.
"We're not hiding it, we spoke before. But the moment was not a good moment for both sides," Al-Khelaifi told Sky Sports News.
"Today, if he's a free agent of course we can talk to him directly, but we are not going to talk to him now. Let him focus on the World Cup. Then, in January, hopefully, if we're interested we will talk to him."
During discussions between PSG and Rashford's camp last summer, a contract worth more than £400,000 a week was put on the table - according to The Athletic - but Rashford turned down the approach.
The striker is understood to be settled in his homeland and is in the process of having an eco-friendly home built in Cheshire, as Man United fight tooth and nail to tie him down to fresh terms.
© Reuters
Rashford is alleged to be stalling on signing a new Man United contract due to the club's uncertain ownership situation, but there is optimism that he will commit his future to the club once business upstairs is resolved.
The 25-year-old has risen through the club's academy to score 120 goals and set up 66 more in 347 appearances in all tournaments, winning the Europa League, FA Cup, Community Shield and two EFL Cups in the process.
Rashford withdrew from the England squad for March's Euro 2024 qualifiers with Italy and Ukraine due to injury, but he has since returned to individual training at Carrington.
While the forward was seen running on the turf, he did not partake in any ball work, leaving his participation in Sunday's clash with Newcastle United still clouded in uncertainty.
During the 2022-23 season, Rashford has posted 27 goals and nine assists from 44 games in all tournaments, as Ten Hag's side occupy third place in the Premier League table - three points clear of Newcastle ahead of their imminent trip to St James' Park.
