FOOTBALL
Solskjaer dismisses talk of Rashford reunion at Besiktas
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was quick to dismiss rumours linking him with a move for wantaway Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford after taking over at Besiktas.
Solskjaer, who managed Rashford during his three-year spell at Old Trafford between 2018 and 2021, was announced as Besiktas' new head coach last week.
The 21-time Turkish Super Lig champions had been without a manager since sacking former Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst in December after a slow start to the season.
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Besiktas currently sit sixth in the league, 20 points behind leaders Galatasaray, while they also face being knocked out of the Europa League at the first hurdle.
Solskjaer has spoken of his desire to welcome new additions to the club during the January transfer window, and Rashford, who has not featured for United since a 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest last month, is among the names linked.
Rashford impressed during Solskjaer's tenure with the Red Devils, netting 55 goals and notching a further 24 assists across 135 appearances in all competitions, the highest number of goal involvements he has registered under any single manager at United.
But speaking ahead of Besiktas' Europa League clash with Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, Solskjaer distanced himself from a move for Rashford, as well as United midfielder Casemiro.
"There’s always a lot of speculation about Manchester United players, always a lot of speculation around me," Solskjaer told TRT Spor.
"Casemiro, Marcus, two very good players, but I have not spoken to any of them.
"We are looking at possibilities for transfers in a few different positions. [Assistant coach] Serdar [Topraktepe], at the moment, is helping us a lot.
"It feels like the group, the energy, they are gelling well together, the coaches, the assistants, him and me."
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