Thomas Tuchel has already let Marcus Rashford know exactly what he thinks of him

Thomas Tuchel has already made his feelings towards Marcus Rashford clear. The German manager openly voiced his desire to work with the Manchester United forward in the past – and he might well get his chance with a potential move to the Red Devils on the horizon.

Current United boss Erik ten Hag’s position is increasingly under threat after a dismal start to the Premier League campaign which sees the Red Devils down in 14th place. Despite being given over £200million to splurge on new players in the summer, the Dutchman has won just three of his 11 matches this season, with the most recent result being a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.

Ten Hag has failed to meet the standards expected by new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who extended the Dutchman’s contract by a year during the summer. With the Old Trafford hierarchy preparing to meet on Tuesday to discuss the manager’s future, the Manchester Evening News reports that Tuchel is being lined up as a possible replacement.

Tuchel, who has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season, is viewed as an immediately attainable candidate by United bosses. He brings with him Premier League experience from his time at Chelsea – and has openly voiced his appreciation for United’s players in the past.

One example is academy graduate and now first-team star Rashford, whose relationship with Ten Hag has been strained to say the least. Despite struggling for form for the best part of a year, Rashford is a hugely talented player with potential that could be harnessed under the right coach.

Tuchel previously lauded Rashford’s ability and character while he was still in charge of Paris Saint-Germain, saying back in December 2020: “We value him very much when he plays in England and not Parc des Princes, honestly, because (him scoring against us) gets a little bit annoying.

“I have met him as an opponent three times and every time I’ve met a calm and humble guy and a nice person, which is amazing. I like this mixture a lot. For me personally, the sporting side is clear – he’s a big threat with his speed, with his ability to score, with his determination and his finishing. He’s very precise, taking shots inside and outside of the box.

“He is super rapid on counter-attacks and strong in the air with headers. He’s had a big impact and it’s nice to see guys like him from the academy having such a big impact in a big, big club like United.”

Tuchel, 51, welcomed United’s interest last season and spoke glowingly about the club prior to Bayern’s games against United in the Champions League group stage last year. The German mentioned United’s aura and noted their 1999 Champions League final comeback against Bayern unprompted.

Meanwhile, Rashford’s relationship with Ten Hag is showing little signs of improvement. He enjoyed a stellar first campaign under the manager, netting 30 goals across all tournaments. But he suffered a miserable run of form last term, as well as facing disciplinary action for various off-pitch incidents. Those include oversleeping and missing a team meeting, and skipping training after a late-night party in Belfast.

Rashford appeared to be on the verge of a comeback in recent weeks but was shockingly taken off at half-time during the Porto match last week, despite getting on the scoresheet. His angry reaction hinted at ongoing tensions with Ten Hag, with Tuchel’s arrival potentially bringing about a fresh start for the player.