AC Milan are preparing to offload a striker to make room in the squad for Marcus Rashford.
Manchester United are desperate to find a new home for Rashford in the January transfer window after he was frozen out by Ruben Amorim. Rashford has admitted he is ready for a new challenge and has been looking for possible exit routes this month.
Milan emerged as the most likely option after the 27-year-old rejected the idea of moving to Saudi Arabia or Turkey at this stage of his career. However, a move was made difficult by the money involved, with Rashford earning £325,000 per week at United until June 2028.
The Italian giants want him on loan until the end of the season but are unwilling to pay even half his wages, with their top earner, Alvaro Morata, on just £150,000. Nevertheless, Milan have not given up on negotiations with United and are continuing with other work in the January window that could pave the way for his arrival.
Reports in Italy suggest that Milan striker Noah Okafor will fly to Germany on Friday to sign for RB Leipzig on an initial loan deal that could become permanent in the summer for around €25m (£21m). The Swiss striker joined from RB Salzburg for 15.5 million euros in the summer of 2023, but was considered expendable.
His departure will free up space in the side, but also on the wage bill, for Rashford, whose brother and representative Dane has been working on the deal in Italy this week. United are keen to sanction a departure after co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe made it clear that every player in the squad has a price.
The England forward has not played for United since the 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on December 12. He has scored seven goals and three assists in 24 appearances this season and is now closer to leaving his boyhood club before the game. window closes on February 3.
“For me personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” Rashford said in December. “If I leave, there won't be any hard feelings. You won't get any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That's me as a person.”
“If I know a situation is already bad, I'm not going to make it worse. I've seen other players leave in the past and I don't want to be that person. If I leave, I will make sure an explanation and it will be mine.”
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