West Ham’s new boss Graham Potter has shown interest in signing Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford but the cost is a hurdle.
The Hammers, who are struggling in forward areas, confirmed Graham Potter’s appointment as manager on Thursday morning, and are currently without captain and top scorer Jarrod Bowen, who is expected to be out for another five weeks with a fractured foot.
Michail Antonio is also on the sidelines following a car accident that left him fearing for his life last month, with the 34-year-old expected to miss the rest of the season with a broken leg.
The costs associated with bringing Rashford to the London Stadium would likely be a hurdle. The club ideally want to sell Rashford, whose contract runs to 2028 after its extension in 2023, for £40million. A loan move would hinge on what proportion of his wages United are prepared to pay, as well as the size of the fee if there is an obligation to buy. The forward’s weekly wages are believed to be around the £325,000 mark.
Rashford’s brother and agent Dwaine Maynard was in Italy on Tuesday to hold preliminary talks with Italian giants AC Milan. The next day, he held talks with officials from Juventus, while also having had talks with Dortmund’s technical director, Sven Mislintat, through the forward’s representatives.
Another Serie A side Como, who are managed by former Arsenal and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas, have reportedly also shown keen interest in Rashford. Como, who are currently 10th in the table, have a link to Man United in former defender Rafael Varane.
The former France international joined the Italian outfit’s board after retiring earlier this season.
Meanwhile, closer to home, Spurs are looking to bolster their attacking options and rescue their season despite being the second-top scorers in the Premier League.
Rashford admitted in a bombshell interview last month that he is ready for a ‘new challenge’ and talked about leaving Old Trafford as a ‘when’, not an ‘if’.
Ruben Amorim has not played Rashford since coming on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest on December 7, though he was restored to the bench for last week’s 2-0 loss at the hands of Newcastle.
When asked why he was dropped for the Manchester derby, Amorim said: “Selection. We try to evaluate everything: training, performance, game performance, engagement with the team-mates, pushing the team-mates up. Everything is on the line when we analyze and try to choose the players, so that is my selection.”
Rashford has already rejected three offers from Saudi Arabia worth up to £35million-a-year
The 27-year-old will only go to a competitive club and league that would give him a chance of regaining his place in the England squad.