AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao has refused to rule out a January move for unsettled Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford.
It has been a few weeks since the 27-year-old dropped the bombshell that he was looking to leave the Red Devils, saying that he was ready for a "new challenge" after two frustrating campaigns.
Rashford has not played any minutes for Man United since his revelation, having been briefly exiled from Ruben Amorim's squad for apparent poor performances on the training pitch.
The England international returned to the matchday squad in Man United's 2-0 home loss to Newcastle United on December 30, but he subsequently sat out the 2-2 stalemate with Liverpool last weekend owing to illness.
Amorim has declared Rashford fit for Sunday's FA Cup third-round match away to Arsenal, but it remains to be seen if the forward will be involved at the Emirates as his entourage work to secure him a winter transfer.
Conceicao: 'Rashford? We will see what happens'
© Imago
Earlier this week, it was claimed that Rashford's agents had flown to Italy to hold talks with Milan, whose newly-appointed head coach Conceicao was quizzed on the transfer speculation during Friday's press conference.
Asked if the forward's arrival would make his squad a more fearsome unit, Conceicao issued a spiky response at first but did confirm his admiration for Rashford, saying: "You try in every way. In Portugal, it's even worse.
"Here we talk about football, then every now and then someone tries this. Rashford is a good player like many others, some are on the market, others are not, let's see what happens."
Conceicao - hired to replace Paulo Fonseca at San Siro in December - guided Milan to a thrilling Supercoppa Italiana final win over Inter Milan earlier this month, but the Rossoneri occupy a lowly eighth place in the Serie A table.
However, that is still a marked improvement on Man United's pitiful 13th-placed standing in the Premier League rankings, and the Red Devils are mathematically closer to the relegation zone than the top eight.
Where else could Rashford go this month?
© Imago
Milan is just one of a surfeit of possible destinations for Rashford this month, and another Serie A giant is said to be among the alternative landing spots, as Juventus have supposedly been sounded out over a move too.
The forward's preference is believed to be a move to Barcelona, but his extortionate wage packet - thought to be in excess of £300,000 per week - could scupper a move to the Catalan giants, who have only just found a solution to the Dani Olmo registration saga.
Premier League trio West Ham United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been tipped to offer Rashford an escape route if he wishes to remain in his homeland, but concerns over his wage packet and possible price tag may also harm his chances of a switch to either member of the trio.
The Saudi Pro League would have no problem bowing to Rashford's salary demands, but the attacker is already said to have turned down three offers to make the move to the Middle East.
Rashford has amassed 138 goals and 63 assists in 426 appearances for Man United since rising through the youth ranks, including seven efforts and three assists from 24 outings in 2024-25.
Ben Knapton
