Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has categorically denied that Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba will not be leaving the club in the summer, insisting that the Red Devils wish to keep the star duo.
“No,” was the Portuguese’s emphatic response when asked whether he felt loaning out the young Rashford would have any benefits.
“What does he need to do to impress me? He impresses me,” Mourinho asserted at his press conference ahead of his side’s clash with West Ham United.
Alexis Sanchez’s January arrival has increased speculation tenfold that several united stars will be sold in the summer for the Chilean has become one of the few ‘undroppable’ attacking players.
The other is £75 million-man Romelu Lukaku, a player signed at the start of the season and one who has scored a fair number of goals to become the Red Devils’ undisputed No.1 centre forward.
Jesse Lingard has, somewhat surprisingly, emerged as another confirmed starter, forcing the likes of Juan Mata, Anthony Martial and Rashford to warm the bench for the most part.
“That’s the reason why he was selected for every match of the season, absolutely every match of the season and that’s why he played in so many of them, so he doesn’t need to leave to play. He doesn’t need anything,” the United tactician added on the topic of Rashford.
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Another player linked with a move away from Old Trafford in the summer is star man Paul Pobga, but Mourinho was adamant that the clubs’s record signing would not be sold when the summer transfer window opens.
“I think he’s going to be here next season. That’s my feeling.”
Pogba’s been a regular starter for the most part, but a brief period which saw United Academy graduate Scott McTominay get the nod over him had the rumour mill going into overdrive.
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The reports linking the former Juventus man to some of the biggest clubs continue to do the rounds and are only likely to intensify as the 2017-18 season comes to a close.
“I can give the guarantee that I don’t want him to leave. I can give you the guarantee that the club doesn’t want to sell him and I can give you the guarantee that we don’t have any approach from him, from his agent or from any club. So, in this moment, for me, he’s staying,” Mourinho added.
United, virtually assured of second spot, have two Premier League games left in their season.
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After taking on West Ham United at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday, they host Watford on Sunday before starting preparations for their FA Cup final clash with Chelsea on May 19.
Both Chelsea and United have failed to secure a single trophy so far and hence, will be desperate to secure one for their cabinet when they face-off at Wembley Stadium.