Serie A club 'emerge as SHOCK contender to sign Marcus Rashford thanks to links to former Man United star', as European clubs weigh up possibility of signing 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 are looking to offload the striker who admitted in an explosive interview last month that he is ready for a “new challenge” and spoke of leaving Old Trafford as a “when”, not an “if”.

Ideally, the club would sell Rashford, whose contract runs until 2028 after his extension in 2023, for £40million a man. But the English international will most likely be loaned out in January.

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

His case is bolstered by the presence of former Red Devils defender Raphael Varane, a former teammate of the 27-year-old, who is now an ambassador for the club following his retirement last year.

Rashford's former England colleague Dele Alli is also currently at the club on trial, hoping to secure a full-time contract after years of injuries.

Como FC have made an impressive attempt to survive in Serie A this season and sit in 16th place at mid-season.

The team is managed by former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fábregas (pictured)

Marcus Rashford looks set to leave his boyhood club this month after falling out of favor at Old Trafford.

Como, who are 16th in Serie A, are the third Italian club to be linked with a move for the striker in the past week. It was reported on Wednesday that Rashford's representatives held talks with European giants Borussia Dortmund and Juventus amid reports that his loan proposal to AC Milan had hit a roadblock.

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

The Manchester United striker's representatives have also spoken with Sven Mislintat, Dortmund's technical director.

Last year, the Bundesliga side secured a January loan deal for another Man United star, Jadon Sancho, before the striker joined Chelsea last summer.

Maynard was in Italy on Tuesday for preliminary talks with Italian giants AC Milan.

According to the Times, a possible move to the newly crowned Italian Super Cup could have hit a roadblock in the striker's salary.

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

The striker's weekly wage is believed to be around £325,000.

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

Their representatives have spoken with Sven Mislintat, technical director of Borussia Dortmund

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

Alvaro Morata, Milan's highest paid, is said to earn £150,000 a week.

United paid a portion of Sancho and Mason Greenwood's earnings to loan them to Dortmund and Getafe respectively last season.

Mail Sport revealed on Wednesday that Tottenham are among the clubs that have an interest in Rashford.

Spurs are looking to strengthen their attacking options and rescue their season despite being the second top scorers 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 returned to the bench in last week's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle.

Asked why he had been ruled out of the Manchester derby, Amorim said: “The selection. We tried to evaluate everything: the training, the performance, the game performance, the commitment to teammates, the drive of teammates. Everything “It's at stake when we analyze and try to choose players, so that's my selection.”

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