Borussia Dortmund have reportedly intensified their efforts to sign Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, with the Englishman not in Ruben Amorim's plans.
The 27-year-old has been out of favour at Old Trafford ever since he admitted that he was ready to leave the club in a bombshell interview last month.
United boss Amorim has not given the attacker a single minute on the pitch since his side's match against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on December 12.
Despite his desire to leave being public knowledge, Rashford is yet to find a suitor willing take the gamble on his innate talent, with his hefty wages often reported as being a stumbling block.
Borussia Dortmund were thought to be one of those clubs put off by his salary, but Sky Germany claim that the Bundesliga team are ready to intensity their pursuit of the Englishman on a loan deal.
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Would Borussia Dortmund suit Rashford more than AC Milan?
The Bundesliga is a famously transition-oriented division, with teams often pressing high and leaving more space behind their defensive line.
Rashford's blistering pace and finishing ability could mean that he would perform well in Germany, benefitting from being able to get in behind opposition defences, something that he has not always had the opportunity to do during his time in England.
Former teammate Jadon Sancho had two positive spells with Dortmund, and Englishman Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is currently excelling with BVB, so it would be fair to say that the club have a history of platforming English talent.
AC Milan have also been credited with an interest in Rashford, and the forward would be joining Englishmen Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham at the Italian outfit.
However, with Abraham operating as a striker and Rafael Leao often taking up a position on the left of attack, it is difficult to see where Rashford would be able to establish himself in the XI.
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The beginning of the end for Rashford?
When Amorim was asked about whether Rashford has played his final game for the club after United's penalty-shootout win in the FA Cup against Arsenal last weekend, the Portuguese responded: "I don't know. We will see."
It seems unlikely that a permanent deal would materialise in January given the attacker is reportedly earning in excess of £300k a week, but a loan move this month would only be delaying his inevitable permanent departure from Old Trafford.
Amorim's 3-4-3 system does not use traditional wingers, but rather uses supportive attacking midfielders behind a central striker, and it is hard to see how Rashford could possibly displace Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho or Amad Diallo, who scored a hat-trick against Southampton on Thursday evening as a wing-back.
Additionally, the Red Devils have implemented a number of unpopular cost-cutting measures in recent months under the directive of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and the sale of Rashford would significantly help the club comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.
Few could have predicted that the boyhood Manchester United fan would fall out favour in such a manner at Old Trafford, and it is becoming clear that the 27-year-old's future lies away from England.
Lewis Nolan
