The speculation surrounding Marcus Rashford's future at Manchester United took a fresh turn on Sunday, with interest from AC Milan. The Rossoneri team are considering an offer for the 27-year-old English forward, but there is one huge problem: his wage. Budget-limited Milan can only facilitate this deal via a loan, thus needing United to cover a huge portion of his wages. The big question is: how realistic is this transfer for both sides?
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Rashford and United
Manchester United has not received any concrete offer for Rashford, though the situation between the club and player doesn't seem very satisfactory. Head coach Ruben Amorim told the player that it's down to him to "force" his way back into the first team. That sound of Amorim is quite indicative of a problematic situation between the attacker and the management.
From being an essential element in United's weaponry, Rashford has reached a point where a crossroads can be seen in front of him. Well, his disappointing form on the pitch over the last few months, adding to his heavy salary, makes it even more tough. On the other hand, the club seems ready for everything that might happen: from full recovery to a final transfer next summer.
Is a loan solution a relief or a risk?
For Milan, a loan is the only feasible way to bring in Rashford. But this option also presents its own set of complications. The Italian club, not as financially well-placed as Europe's moneybags, would need United to pay a substantial portion of Rashford's salary. That alone makes the deal more complicated.
On the other hand, it could be a loan that works for all parties: United get to rehabilitate the market value of a player struggling-like what happened with Jadon Sancho last season-and Milan get to add a high-profile forward without overstretching their finances.
The risks are, however, patent: in case the performance does not work for Rashford, Milan will have an absolute deadwood in the roster, while United would have managed to see the value of their player go further down than ever. A high-risk gamble it certainly is, but if things do work right, the benefits would be just tremendous.
Does Milan really need Rashford?
From a purely technical point of view, Milan are keenly looking for reinforcements for their attacking setup, and Rashford could turn out to be one. The moot question remains whether the Rossoneri actually need Rashford or are simply taking advantage of an opportunity that has popped up in the transfer market.
Furthermore, the recent performances at United have been anything but encouraging from Rashford. Inconsistency in his game and the mooted questions regarding his motivation will indeed work against a potential move.
United's Rashford headache For Manchester United, too, the situation is just as precarious. Ideally, the club would like to get Rashford back to his best in order to contribute on the pitch and raise his market value. But time is of the essence. If the player continues to underperform, United risks having to sell him for far less than his potential worth.
It may not be perfect, but a loan could prove to be a strategic move. Allowing Rashford to go elsewhere will let him regain confidence and prove himself to the world, and if Milan wants him on a permanent basis after the loan, United will be in a better position to negotiate the deal.