Man Utd’s next big thing? ‘Last chance’ wonderkid could be perfect Rashford replacement

Updated: 14 Sept 2026 10:57 BST | 5 min read

Marcus Rashford, Man Utd, 2026/27 — © IMAGO

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

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Marcus Rashford still has something to prove at Manchester United, despite remaining at the club following a loan to Barcelona last season.

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Rashford might have won over Michael Carrick with a series of encouraging performances at the beginning of the Premier League campaign, but without a goal or an assist through the opening four matches of the season, those in the boardroom of the Old Trafford side will be less convinced.

The England international is United’s second-highest earner, and with co-owners INEOS primarily concerned about value for money, the 28-year-old is a player who has come under the microscope.

Current ETV

Marcus Rashford

F, M (L)

Man Utd

Marcus Rashford

F, M (L)

Man Utd

ETV Range

€25.3M - €31M

While Carrick was willing to have Rashford back in his squad, the board appeared less convinced, such that the academy graduate’s future was never secured until the Premier League transfer window shut.

Even if the local lad has earned a starting spot, doubts remain over whether he will be retained in the long term.

Why ‘fearless’ Ben Seghir has Man Utd quality

Certainly, United will be casting their eye across the footballing world for alternatives. One particularly attractive transfer possibility could be about to open itself up in Germany, where Morocco international wonderkid Eliesse Ben Seghir faces his ‘last chance’ with Bayer Leverkusen, according to Bild.

Ben Seghir’s issue in Leverkusen has not been talent: it has been injuries. The 21-year-old arrived late in the summer of 2025 but has spent much of the last year pinned to the sidelines. A pre-season problem, meanwhile, has prevented him from playing so far this term. The talent, though, remains.

“Eliesse is a first-class technician, full of ideas and clever in his dribbling, as well as having a precise passing game that can open things up… Eliesse can play wide in attack and also in central areas. He’s tough to predict,” Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes said.

© IMAGO - Eliesse Ben Seghir, Bayer Leverkusen

This is a sentiment echoed by former Morocco boss Walid Regragui, who said of Ben Seghir: “The quality he has compared to many other players is that he is impactful. He always plays forward and is fearless. Players like that are rare.”

Even in a difficult season last term, Ben Seghir posted 17.46 chance-creation passes per 90 in the Bundesliga as well as 4.94 take-ons. The sample size was small, but the potential is tantalising.

Ben Seghir would not come without risk, but the payoff could be huge

Should Ben Seghir reach his peak, he will outperform the current level of any Manchester United player. That is the opinion of leading data analytics firm SciSports, which grades players with a SciSkill score based on hundreds of in-game data points.

And United would offer him the ideal platform to reach his peak, the experts believe. In SciSports’ Career Advice tool, Carrick’s side are given five stars for potential development as well as an overall Club Fit score of 79, which comes out ahead of Fulham and Chelsea as the best in the Premier League.

His versatility makes him particularly interesting. He does not play as a traditional winger but rather an inside forward or wide playmaker, and is also capable of operating in a more central role. He could provide a No.10 alternative to Bruno Fernandes, who is in contract talks with the club.

© IMAGO - Eliesse Ben Seghir, Man Utd Club Fit

And Ben Seghir’s price point is attractive too. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €21.8 million. Leverkusen may not want to go so low on a player they spent €30m on 12 months ago, but a price somewhere between these two figures may be negotiable – and would represent a low-cost risk for a potential high reward.

Ben Seghir might have fallen off the map in recent times, but Man Utd can use this to their advantage. He has the age profile, the style and the potential to be a star with the Red Devils, at a potentially attractive price. His talent hasn’t disappeared, it’s just dormant. And the data suggests that it can be reawakened at Old Trafford.