GdS: ‘Shopping in Manchester’ – acceleration expected for Rashford as Walker links emerge | OneFootball

AC Milan are looking to bolster the squad in January and they seem to have turned their attention towards the Manchester clubs.

La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Marcus Rashford is also liked a lot by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who knows him well, as he confirmed to the cameras prior to last night’s 1-1 draw against Cagliari in which the team missed big chances.

“I played with him when he was young and he was already very good. Today he is a more mature man, he did great things at Manchester United. He can play on the left, on the right and in the middle: he makes the difference in all positions,” he said.

The Englishman and Ibrahimovic shared the dressing room at Old Trafford from 2016 to 2018 and might reunite again in Milano, even if the Swede is now working behind a desk rather than leading on the field.

Has Ibra already tried to convince his former teammate to join him? “Not yet, let’s see if we can talk. But there’s no need to convince him, he’s a United player, but Milan is one of the most important clubs in the world, everyone wants to play there.”

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The fact that the Rossoneri are trying to sign Rashford – and that Rashford really likes the idea – is now clear. To get there, the numbers need to be adjusted and other contenders, Barcelona first and foremost, need to be overtaken.

A first step is the sale of Noah Okafor to RB Leipzig, for which there has been a slowdown. The Swiss is outside the plans and his departure would free up a place in the squad list and some money when factoring in salary savings and earnings from the loan fee.

Rashford’s salary of €13m net per season is much more expensive, but United seem willing to contribute and – after initial resistance – have also opened up to a dry loan. For this reason Milan are ready to try and accelerate.

Late yesterday evening, news also arrived regarding Milan’s interest in Kyle Walker, the captain of Manchester City who would like to leave the Premier League in January, as their head coach Pep Guardiola confirmed.

There was contact between the Rossoneri directors and the England international’s entourage in recent weeks, when Tomori seemed to be leaving, but now a sale in defence is needed. Walker earns €6m net and his contract expires in 18 months.

What’s more, by regulation, Serie A clubs cannot buy two English players from abroad in the same year. In short, Walker would only be possible without Rashford arriving, who is now the first real objective of the Rossoneri market.