MARCUS RASHFORD will become Manchester United’s top earner with a new £375,000-a-week deal.
And the Red Devils plan to fund the near double-your-money hike through a salary swap with keeper David de Gea.
Rashford earns a basic £200K-a-week and has another year left on his deal after the club triggered their 12-month option to extend.
De Gea, 32, already earns the amount being offered to the striker but is now out of contract.
United have offered the Spaniard a new deal at a vastly reduced £200K-a-week — and told him they will not go any higher.
Should De Gea sign, it would effectively see him and Rashford trade salaries.
And insiders say Old Trafford’s top brass are totally relaxed about the keeper’s next move.
If he agrees fresh terms, that will cover the pay rise for United’s top scorer.
And if he knocks it back and leaves, they save even more.
Rashford’s wage boost would rocket his salary by an extra £8.4million-a-year over five seasons — with United holding a 12-month extension option.
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Sources close to the 25-year-old insist he sees his future at Old Trafford, and boss Erik Ten Hag has always been confident a deal will be agreed.
Yet it is less clear over De Gea, 32, with the manager hoping to bring in another keeper anyway.
Everton’s Jordan Pickford is first choice, and the England No 1 is said to be keen on a move, even if it means battling for a first-team place.
United keeper Dean Henderson will also be sold this summer if a buyer is found, one of several stars to be offloaded so Ten Hag can buy a striker and midfielder.
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