The race for Marcus Rashford is hotting up as Juventus have now reportedly emerged as contenders for his signature.
Rashford is known to be keen for a move to Barcelona and while the Spanish giants have held talks with his camp.
The 28-year-old announced in December that he is ‘ready for a new challenge,’ effectively calling time on a journey with United which began when he was seven.
He spent the latter half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, where he scored four goals, but they chose not to sign him permanently. Rashford still has three years left on his £300,000-per-week deal at Old Trafford.
In recent days, The Sun have claimed that Jose Mourinho is eager for a reunion with Rashford at Fenerbahce, with reports in Turkey saying they are willing to meet his £40million valuation.
And now Sky Sport Italia claims Juventus are exploring a potential deal for the wantaway former England striker.
United would like to get him off their wage bill and are open to offers but the player’s huge wages are seemingly limiting his options.
Barcelona are favourites to sign him on loan this season after holding talks with his representative and older brother Dwaine Maynard.
He one of five United players being forced to train away from the rest of the first-team squad at Carrington in pre-season and has lost his No.10 shirt to new £62.5million signing Matheus Cunha.
The club has made sure that he and the other ‘bomb squad’ members don’t come into contact with Ruben Amorim or the squad.
Rashford took up the option to use the facilities at Carrington as long as he wasn’t there at the same time as Amorim and the squad.
His enormous wages could be a stumbling block for any suitors, while Spanish journalist Javi Miguel argues that Barcelona’s sporting director Deco remains unconvinced by him.
Miguel tweeted this week: ‘Deco remains the main obstacle in the Rashford operation.
‘There are still significant discrepancies in the Sporting Committee regarding the attacking reinforcement. The priority now is on departures to free up salary space.’
Could that open the door for Juventus? They certainly pose an intriguing option. After finishing fourth last season, they can offer Champions League football – an opportunity he relished at Aston Villa.
No such opportunity exists for now at United, who finished 15th last season, the lowest they have placed in the Premier League era.
Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia are the four other members of United’s ‘bomb squad’ who have been told to come in for training at Carrington once Amorim and the rest of the squad have left.
Garnacho wants to stay in the Premier League and is attracting interest from Aston Villa, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Sancho has been linked with a loan move to Juventus and Antony could return to Real Betis, while Malacia is available after a spell at PSV Eindhoven last season.
