Marcus Rashford’s career has had more ups and downs than one of the wild rides at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach and is set to tilt in another crazy direction as offers for his services emerge during the transfer window.
The England international was plummeting into football obscurity when Ruben Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag at Manchester United but a January loan to Aston Villa revived his fortunes with the new challenge flinging him in an upward trajectory.
That deal has now expired and Rashford has returned to his parent club where it would take another bizarre twist to see him regain a place as a regular starter at Old Trafford.
He won’t be short of admirers and was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona at the start of the year at the start of the year before the switch to Villa, where he was appreciated by the Holte End for his inspiring performances, despite scoring just twice in ten appearances.
At just 27, there’s still a lot to like about Rashford if he uses that form as inspiration to return to the style of play which has gained him 62 caps for his country in which he scored 17 times.
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He is reported to be willing to accept a pay cut from the £350,000 weekly wage he is reputedly banking with United to join another club with usual suspects Tottenham Hotspur among the list of those said to be keen on offering a fresh start.
Spurs being Rashford’s next destination looks as unlikely as the whopping odds of 33/1 with bet365 suggest, however.
They have just signed Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich for £30million-plus and have Wilson Odobert as back-up for that position even if Heung-min Son departs for Fenerbahce to be reunited with former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho.
Newcastle are also mentioned as contenders for Rashford but they have opened talks with Brighton over a deal for striker Joao Pedro and are also 33/1 with bet365, leaving Barca as the 4/5 favourites with the same firm to sign the Manchester-born forward.
However, the reigning La Liga champions’ prime target appears to be Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams, who is also on Arsenal’s radar, and he plays in a similar position to Rashford so maybe consider the 2/1 with Bet Victor that the United exile joins any Italian club.
Definitely discount the 8/1 with Unibet and BetMGM he stays with the Europa League runners-up and instead take the 14/1 with those two bookmakers he inks a permanent deal at Villa. Don’t lay out bundles, though, as this wild ride is showing little signs of shuddering to a halt.
Royal Ascot odds
Day two at Royal Ascot sees Aidan O’Brien’s Los Angeles renew rivalry with Anmaat in what should be a thrilling Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over a mile and a half at the Berkshire course.
Ryan Moore piloted Los Angeles to a half length victory when the pair clashed at the Curragh at the end of last month but Ascot course and distance winner Anmaat can be held up by Jim Crowley before unleashing a belting charge in the closing stages to get his nose in front when it matters at 7/2 with Betfred, William Hill and bet365.
Punters will adore O’Brien celebrating victory with True Love in the opening Queen Mary Stakes at 13/2 with bet365 while Cinderella’s Dream can produce a fairytale performance for Charlie Appleby and William Buick in the Duke of Cambridge at 2/1 with Ladbrokes, Coral and Bet Victor.
The dream team saddle Arabian Light, who boasts three wins, a second and two third-place finishes in his six starts, in the Royal Hunt Cup and the gelding is worth an each-way wager at 16/1 with Hills.
Queen’s tennis odds
Holger Rune reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals two years ago and the Dane continues his preparations for the imminent grass-court grand slam when he faces Mackenzie McDonald at Queen’s.
Fourth seed Rune reached the semi-finals on the lawns at Barons Court last year and has won ten of his last 11 matches on this surface against players outside the world top 20.
He will extend that record but it must be noted McDonald, ranked 98 by the ATP, dismissed Gael Monfils in straight sets in his opening match so take Rune to triumph in the deciding set at 14/5 with Betway.
