Serie A giants AC Milan are considering one credit movement for Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.
The England international has been mired in transfer speculation since he revealed his desire for a “new challenge” in mid-December. Ruben Amorim had already dropped Rashford for last month's Manchester derby by the time he made those pointed statements, sparking a four-match exile to punish what the coach considered an unacceptable off-field lifestyle.
While Amorimi has remained persistent that Rashford could return to United's starting line-up, the club are said to have put their under-performing academy graduate up for sale.
Offers from Europe's elite teams have been few and far between in recent weeks, with the well-funded Saudi Pro League leading the charge so far, but Milan is thought to be interested in the 27-year-old unsuitable according to Daily Mail.
of Series A The outfit 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 Ibrahimovic.
The former United striker, who played 43 games for the side Rashford for the Red Devils, is an operating partner in RedBird Capital – the owners of Milan. Ibrahimovic's role is usually unclear, but he highlighted his influence in building the squad in the summer, when Fonseca claimed the club had completed signings. “The manager manages, the club does the rest,” warned Ibrahimovic, “the window will close when I say yes.”
The January window is now open and United are willing to entertain any loan offer that includes a must-buy clause. Some reports suggest that Amorim's side would accept a fee of up to £40m in a bid to take Rashford's wages – thought to be more than £325,000 – off the books.
Table leaders Napoli have also expressed an interest in Rashford. Manager Antonio Conte has a reputation for firing former Premier League players; overseeing the arrival of Rashford's former United team-mates Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku just last summer. However, the economic demands involved in any move for the missing striker are thought to be a “stretch” for Napoli.