TV pundit Gary Neville has criticised Manchester United’s hierarchy for their inability to tie down Marcus Rashford to a longer-term contract.

The former defender believes it demonstrates a lack of planning and foresight on the club’s part and doesn’t show that they value their younger players:

“The one stands out a mile is Marcus Rashford – been here since eight or nine years of age and they are struggling to tie him down. It doesn’t send a great message to everyone.”

“You can’t look towards the players who have come from international grounds and say why are they not signing when you can’t get young kids who have been at the club [for a long time] to sign. They are all looking elsewhere.”

Rashford signed a new contract at the end of the 2015/16 campaign after a breakthrough season, but his current deal expires in 2020.

United do have an option to extend his stay for a further year, but it still puts pressure on the club to tie the England international down with his contract currently running into its final season.

At 21, Rashford is young and still developing his game, but he has made 45 appearances for the club this campaign and is a key player.

The forward has been linked with the likes of Barcelona in recent months, but there has been no indication that he would want to leave the club he joined at the age of seven.