Serie A giants AC Milan are thinking about loan move for Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.
The England international has been mired in transfer speculation since revealing his desire to “a new challenge” in mid-December. Ruben Amorim had already ruled Rashford out for last month’s Manchester derby by the time he made those emphatic statements, sparking a four-game exile to punish which the head coach considered an unacceptable way of life off the field.
While Amorim has remained persistent in order for Rashford to force his way back into United’s starting 11, the club have reportedly put their under-performing academy graduate up for sale.
Offers from Europe’s elite clubs have been few and far between in recent weeks, with the well-funded Saudi Pro League leading charge so far, but Milan are thought to be interested in the 27-year-old misfit Daily Mail.
The Series A the team only recently changed managers, bringing in wily Portuguese pragmatist Sergio Conceicao to replace Paulo Fonseca earlier in the week. One constant that has remained at the club is Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Former United striker, who played 43 games with him Rashford for the Red Devils, he is an operating partner in RedBird Capital – the owners of Milan. Ibrahimovic’s role is usually unclear, but he highlighted his impact on the squad’s build-up in the summer when Fonseca claimed the club had completed signings. “The manager manages, the club does the rest,” warned Ibrahimović, “the window will close when I say so.”
The January window is now open and United are willing to accept any loan offer that includes a buyout clause. Some reports suggest that Amorim’s side would accept a fee of as much as £40m in a bid to remove Rashford’s wages – believed to be in excess of £325,000 – from the account.
Top-flight Napoli have also shown an interest in Rashford. Manager Antonio Conte has a reputation for poaching ex-Premier League players; overseeing the arrival of Rashford’s former United team-mates, Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku last summer alone. However, the economic demands involved in any move for the keen forward are thought to be a “stretch” for Napoli.
READ THE LATEST MAN UTD NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND GOSSIP
