Jamie O’Hara urges Tottenham to break the bank for ‘this’ star.
Jamie O’Hara has thrown his weight behind a move for Marcus Rashford, urging Tottenham to break their wage structure to bring the England international to north London and insisting the forward remains a genuinely elite player capable of making an immediate impact at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The former Spurs midfielder was characteristically bullish in his assessment, framing the potential deal as one of the more straightforward pieces of business Tottenham could do this summer, given Rashford’s precarious standing at Manchester United and the relatively modest transfer fee that would be required to secure his services. O’Hara said (h/t Chris Cowlin on X):
“I would love nothing more than for us to break the bank with wages and get him over the line. It ain’t going to cost you loads of money, what, £30m, probably? You’re going to get him for nothing because they need him off the wage bill. They don’t want him there, his future at Manchester United is gone, right? The only reason he’d be integrated back into the team is if they can’t get rid of him. If they can come to some sort of deal and get Marcus Rashford at Tottenham, he would be a star player for us. He is still top drawer.”
O’Hara urges Tottenham to break wage structure for Rashford
The argument O’Hara is making is rooted in market opportunity as much as footballing quality. Rashford is understood to be earning in excess of £325,000 per week at Old Trafford, a wage that dwarfs Tottenham’s current highest earners, Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero, both of whom are said to be on approximately £195,000 per week. The financial commitment required to meet those wage demands would represent a significant departure from the salary structure that has historically constrained Tottenham’s ability to attract elite names.
However, O’Hara’s point about the transfer fee carries genuine weight. A player previously valued in the region of £80 million or more is now potentially available for a fraction of that figure, given United’s eagerness to clear him from their wage bill. Barcelona’s decision not to exercise a permanent option after his loan spell at the Nou Camp added further uncertainty to his situation, and with the World Cup underway and his England career continuing, the summer represents the most logical moment for a resolution.
Former scout Bryan King had previously tempered expectations around the likelihood of a Tottenham move, arguing that Champions League football elsewhere would represent a more attractive proposition for the 28 G/A Rashford than a club without European football next season. O’Hara’s counter is essentially that the right financial package, combined with a genuine starring role under Roberto De Zerbi, could override those reservations.
Whether the Lewis family are prepared to shatter their newly established wage ceiling for a player whose recent form has been inconsistent remains the central question. O’Hara clearly believes they should. The debate around Rashford’s future at Tottenham is unlikely to go away any time soon.