Everton eye Manchester United forward as an old David Moyes gesture could help seal a January move

Marcus Rashford transfer talk has reached Merseyside, with Everton reportedly holding early discussions with Manchester United over a January move for the forward.

Football Transfers reported over the weekend that the Toffees have spoken to United about Rashford. The report claims his time at Old Trafford is expected to end next summer, but that he could move on in the mid-season window. Those talks are said to be at a very early stage, and there is no word on whether Everton would be looking at a permanent deal or a loan.

The interest makes sense when you look at the table. Everton have scored just eight league goals, and only the current bottom three sides have scored fewer.

Why Marcus Rashford to Everton makes sense

Thierno Barry has had to shoulder a big burden up front after the club missed out on Folarin Balogun as a replacement for Beto. That is a lot to ask of one striker.

Under David Moyes, Everton have never been particularly free-scoring, and the team is arguably much better at defending than attacking. Rashford would bring proven Premier League output: 89 goals in 303 appearances.

Our read: for a side short of firepower, a forward with that record is an obvious target. The link to Rashford is sure to divide opinion on Everton forums, but the need up front is plain.

The David Moyes gesture that Marcus Rashford never forgot

There is also a personal angle. Moyes came across Rashford in 2013, when he was Manchester United manager and invited a group of academy players to train with the first team. Rashford recalled it in 2019, in comments carried by ESPN and the Manchester Evening News.

Rashford said: “It was under David Moyes, and it was a group of us that went over. It was an amazing feeling. I remember the training session: We didn’t actually touch the ball. We were just doing shape and stuff like that. But then we go back to our own age group, and what you learned from that little 15 or 20 minutes is priceless as a young academy player.”

He added: “It was unbelievable. It’s little things like that, those experiences, that you might not get in other academies at such a young age.”

It was a small thing in the grand scheme, but Rashford clearly valued it. His respect for Moyes could come into play now that Everton are showing interest, as we saw with the way Moyes handles his young players recently.

Could wages block the Rashford deal?

The obvious obstacle is money. Potentially, wages could be a problem for Everton, and the structure of any deal, loan or permanent, is still unknown. After a summer window that ended in chaos, the Toffees will have to be careful.

Author opinion

Rashford looks like a player who needs a fresh start, and Everton clearly need additional firepower. If the wages can be made to work, this is a January deal worth watching. Moyes may only need to make a phone call.

Marcus Rashford to Everton is still only a conversation, but the pieces are there for it to become something more.