Borussia Dortmund are reportedly making 'a concerted effort' to acquire Marcus Rashford, while Napoli are said to have emerged as genuine contenders to sign the Manchester United attacker before the end of the January transfer window.
AC Milan continue to be viewed as the favourites for the Englishman, who has seemingly been left out of the Man United squad for Sunday's FA Cup third-round fixture with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Dortmund have stepped up their interest, with the Bundesliga giants determined to win the race for his signature.
The report claims that BVB's strong relationship with Man United has placed them in a good position, with the deal potentially similar to the one that took Jadon Sancho back to the club on loan for the second half of last season.
A permanent exit for Rashford this month is seen as highly unlikely considering that he collects in the region of £315,000 a week in wages, while the Red Devils are believed to want at least £40m.
As a result, a loan exit is the most likely outcome to the tense situation, and according to The Mirror, Napoli are also firmly in the race following the news that Georgian forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is looking to leave.
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Dortmund, Napoli 'firmly in the race' for Rashford
Kvaratskhelia has told Napoli that he wants to depart this month, and Paris Saint-Germain are believed to be making excellent progress in their attempts to sign the Premier League-linked attacker.
"I have never hidden away from uncomfortable questions. If I speak, I'll tell the truth, otherwise I prefer to stay quiet, I don't tell lies," Napoli boss Antonio Conte told reporters on Saturday.
"We are talking about an important player. A player who was already due to leave in the summer. I also wanted to have technical certainties. Quality is needed in addition to the work I demanded, as well as the confirmation of certain players, including Khvicha, who, as you know, had asked to be sold in the summer. And he wasn't the only one.
"We are moving forwards, but it is easy to forget the work I had to do to convince the players, who I considered essential, to stay. Many wanted to take other paths. He asked the club to be sold, without mincing his words. This is what was said to me, the player has confirmed his decision to me."
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Conte 'eyes Rashford as Kvaratskhelia replacement'
Conte has allegedly told Napoli chiefs that he wants Rashford to arrive following the latest development, and there is now expected to be a scramble for the attacker's services in the coming days.
Milan adviser Zlatan Ibrahimovic played alongside Rashford at Man United, and the Swede has suggested that talks will soon take place with the 27-year-old over a potential switch to San Siro.
"I know him very well, I played with him when he was young, now he is an adult and established. He has done great things with United and today that is his club," he told Sky Italia.
"How to convince him [to join]? Milan is one of the biggest clubs in the world, everyone wants to play here. It is a difficult operation, we will see if we can talk to him."
Rashford has scored seven goals and registered three assists in 24 appearances for Man United this season, but he has not played for the Red Devils since December 12, having fallen out of favour under head coach Ruben Amorim.
Matt Law
