Serie A club ’emerge as SHOCK contender to sign Marcus Rashford thanks to links with ex-Man United star’ – as European clubs weigh up move for wantaway Red Devils forward

Newly promoted Serie A side Como FC have entered the race to sign Marcus Rashford this month, according to a report.

Manchester United want to fire the striker who admitted in an impressive interview last month that he is ready for a ‘new challenge’ and spoke of leaving Old Trafford as a ‘when’, not an ‘if’.

The club are ideally looking to sell Rashford, whose contract runs until 2028 after an extension in 2023, for £40m for a man. But a January loan seems most likely for the England international.

However, according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, wealthy Serie A team Como – led by former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas – have joined a growing list of suitors.

Their case is bolstered by the presence of ex-Red Devils defender Raphael Varane, a former teammate of the 27-year-old who is now a club ambassador after retiring last year.

Rashford’s old England colleague Dele Alli is also currently on trial with the club, hoping to secure a full-time contract after years of injury problems.

The team is led by former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas (photo)

Marcus Rashford looks set to leave Manchester United this month after falling out of favour

Despite the reports from Italy, Mail Sport understands that Rashford’s representatives are playing down links with the club.

Como, which is sixteenth in Serie A, is the third Italian club to be linked with a move for the attacker in the past week. It was reported on Wednesday that Rashford’s representatives have held talks with European giants Borussia Dortmund and Juventus, amid reports that his proposed loan to AC Milan has hit a stumbling block.

Rashford’s brother and agent Dwaine Maynard held talks with Juventus officials on Wednesday.

The Man United forward’s representatives have also spoken to Dortmund technical director Sven Mislintat.

Last year, the Bundesliga side signed another talented Man United star in Jadon Sancho on loan in January, before the striker joined Chelsea last summer.

Maynard had been in Italy on Tuesday to hold preliminary talks with Italian giants AC Milan.

According to the Times, a potential move to the newly crowned Italian Super Cup winners could have hit a snag over the striker’s wages.

Any deal would depend on what proportion of his wages United are willing to pay, as well as the size of the fee if there is an obligation to buy.

Former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane is an ambassador for the club after his retirement last year

His representatives have spoken to Borussia Dortmund technical director Sven Mislintat

Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus are among the clubs in the race to sign Rashford

The striker’s weekly wage is estimated at around £325,000. Milan’s highest earner Alvaro Morata reportedly earns £150,000 a week.

United paid part of Sancho and Mason Greenwood’s earnings last season to loan them out to Dortmund and Getafe respectively.

Mail Sport announced on Wednesday that Tottenham are among the clubs with an interest in Rashford.

Spurs want to strengthen their attacking options and save their season despite being the second top scorer in the Premier League.

Ruben Amorim has not played against Rashford since coming on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest on December 7, although he was back on the bench after last week’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle.

When asked why he was dropped for the Manchester derby, Amorim said: ‘Selection. We try to evaluate everything: training, performance, game performance, involvement with the teammates, bringing out the teammates. Everything is on the line when we analyze the players and try to choose them, so that is my selection.”

Rashford has 60 caps but missed out on a place in the England squad at the European Championship and revealed he hoped to represent the Three Lions at the World Cup.