Erik Ten Hag and Marcus Rashford reunion talk ramps up as ex Man Utd duo linked with German giants
Erik Ten Hag's link with the Borussia Dortmund job is growing stronger by the week.
The Dutchman watched on from the stands as the German side were put to the sword by Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night. The fomer Ajax boss, sacked by Manchester United in October. According to Sky Germany, Dortmund's Marketing Director Carsten Cramer was seen showing Ten Hag around the business area at the Signal Iduna Park on the evening as pressure grows on current boss Nuri Sahin. The Turkish gaffer has seen his side slip to eighth in the Bundesliga having only replaced Edin Terzic last summer.
He has a close relationship with Matthias Sammer, a part-time advisor at the club and was also spotted in discussions with sporting director Sven Mislintat, formerly of Arsenal. His activity around the club has sparked persistent rumours that he will be the new face in the dugout at Signal Iduna Park.
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Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford's agents have held talks with Borussia Dortmund talks as the 2024 Champions Leauge runners up eye a loan deal for the academy graduate. Rashford has been exiled by Ruben Amorim in recent weeks and has not played for United in the Premier League since December 7 after he confirmed his desire to leave. The England international has also been linked with PSG, Juventus, Barcelona and AC Milan with the latter cancelling a deal after they failed to offload Noah Okafor to RB Leipzig. United value Rashford at around £60million, while he earns over £350,000-a-week.
The failed move has opened the door once again for Rashford to head to Germany, who have an attacking space in their squad following Donyell Malen's departure to Aston Villa. If both Ten Hag and Rashford end up at Dortmund the dynamic will be interesting to witness. The Dutchman unexpectedly dropped the Englishman in September last year for the 0-0 at Crystal Palace. Rashford was also dropped for a game against Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2022/23 after the forward's punctuality was late to a pre-game meeting.
The reunion is still up in the air however. Sky Germany's report on Ten Hag adds that there is "no connection" between the ex-Ajax boss' visits to the stadium and the club's poor recent results. Dortmund's support in manager Sahin is "not wavering" and the 36-year-old still has the trust of the board.
