AC Milan are reportedly set to enter “advanced talks” with Manchester United over signing Marcus Rashford with the Serie A club prioritising the 27-year-old forward as its “first target” of the January transfer window.
Italian journalist Vito Angele reveals Milan are “focused on Rashford to reinforce its attack”, having already begun negotiations with the Englishman’s representatives last week.
Angele contends the Rossoneri are now set to advance negotiations with their English counterparts as the Serie A club seeks to close a deal for Rashford, ahead of a number of other interested suitors across Europe.
Milan is focused on #Rashford to reinforce its attack. The feeling is that it is the English player who is the first target of this transfer session: advanced talks are about to begin
— Vito Angelè (@VitoAngele) January 13, 2025
Tweet: “Milan is focused on #Rashford to reinforce its attack. The feeling is that it is the English player who is the first target of this transfer session: advanced talks are about to begin.”
From United’s perspective, Old Trafford officials are open to their academy graduate’s departure, following a blockbuster interview last month revealing he wanted to leave the club.
However, United would be keen for as much of Rashford’s costly wage packet – believed to be in excess of £300,000 a week – to be covered should the 27-year-old depart on loan; and this will prove tricky for Milan to match with a compromise likely to be needed for a deal to be agreed.
There will also need to be a decision made over whether any loan move includes a buy option/obligation.
United officials will be mindful of Rashford’s stock on the transfer market being at an all time low at present, thus encouraging the club to not include an obligation clause as a successful loan in Italy could lead to a much better transfer fee being demanded for the forward come the summer.
There had been an added twist in the tale of Milan’s pursuit of the Englishman, however, with Kyle Walker looking to leave Manchester City this month in an unexpected development.
The Italian club were believed to have been put on red alert by this unexpected availability of the experienced right-back, but Serie A regulations mean Milan would only be able to sign one English player in this window. This ensured it became a case of Rashford or Walker, rather than a joint raid for the Manchester-based pair.
But this update by Angele of Milan preparing to enter advanced negotiations for Rashford as their primary target in the winter window suggests the club’s officials have settled on the 27-year-old forward as their priority over Walker.
It just remains to be seen whether a deal can be struck which satisfies their Old Trafford counterparts who are acutely aware of the acute pressure financial fair play rules are having on their transfer aspirations this month.
Featured image Stephen Pond via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
