Manchester United starlet Marcus Rashford close to signing bumper new £1.3m-a-year contract at Old Trafford

Marcus Rashford has moved a step closer to signing a £1.3million-a-year contract at Manchester United after formally appointing his older brother to handle his business affairs.

Dwaine Maynard has been representing Rashford since the teenage striker made a spectacular breakthrough at Old Trafford in February.

He has since held talks with a number of top agents desperate to have Rashford on their books.

Marcus Rashford poses with the Young Player of the Year award alongside Academy head coach Nicky Butt

The Manchester United youngster, 18,  made a spectacular breakthrough at Old Trafford in February 

RASHFORD'S RAPID RISE 

Marcus Rashford may now be a household name but when he burst onto the scene against Midtjylland in February, he was practically unheard of. Since then, his timeline has been fairytale stuff...

February 25: Anthony Martial is injured in the warm-up prior to the Europa League clash with Midtyjlland. Rashford is called into the starting line-up and he scores twice in a 5-1 win. 

February 28: Rashford is in dreamland as he nets another Old Trafford brace to help United to a 3-2 victory over Arsenal on his Premier League debut.

March 4: Roy Hodgson doesn't rule the teenager's Euro 2016 chances. 

March 20: Having gone a month without a goal, he makes amends and more with the winner in the Manchester derby.

March 27: Makes England Under 20 debut but the Young Lions lose 2-1 at home to Canada. 

April 13: Sets United en route to the FA Cup semi-finals with a sensational strike in a 2-1 victory at West Ham

April 16: Relegates Aston Villa with his goal in a 1-0 win at Old Trafford. 

Maynard, who has also been receiving advice from Danny Welbeck's brothers Chris and Wayne, is now dealing with United himself in discussions over the new deal.

Rashford currently earns £1,500-a-week, but that figure will rise to £25,000 before bonuses after scoring seven goals in 15 games for United.

The 18-year-old is set to face struggling Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday lunchtime as Louis van Gaal's side look to keep the pressure on Manchester City and Arsenal in the race for fourth and a Champions League place.

United have a game in hand on their rivals — they play sixth-placed West Ham on Tuesday — and Van Gaal believes they must win all three remaining Premier League fixtures to finish in the top four.

United face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final in a fortnight. Qualifying for the Champions League and winning the cup would go a long way to convincing Manchester United chief Ed Woodward to keep Van Gaal for the last year of his contract.

When it was put to the Dutchman that he cannot lose any of the four games if he wants to hit that target, Van Gaal said: 'I cannot afford it and Manchester United cannot afford it. But in sport you can win and lose. It's hard to accept, but it is the truth.'

Rashford is expected to lead the line for Louis van Gaal (left) again when they face Norwich on Saturday 

Rashford celebrates after scoring one of two goals on his Premier League debut against Arsenal in February

Norwich manager Alex Neil is certainly under no illusions about today's challenge, with his side lying 17th in the table, two points from safety.

Neil said: 'This is certainly the biggest game of our lives at the moment because it is the most relevant for us and is going to shape the future for us.

'For me it is not about money, it is about pride, fighting for your club — every-thing other than money. It is about your career and how you want to see yourself.'

The highly-rated striker has formally appointed older brother Dwaine Maynard to handle his business affairs

Rashford's brother has also been receiving advice from Danny Welbeck's (centre) brothers Chris and Wayne