Serie A giants AC Milan have shifted their transfer focus to Chelsea loanee João Félix and Manchester United duo Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Højlund after conceding defeat in their pursuit of England international Marcus Rashford, according to ESPN sources. The Rossoneri had set Rashford a Monday deadline to commit to a loan move, but the 27-year-old is reportedly holding out for other options, with Barcelona his preferred destination if the Catalan club can free up space on their wage bill.
Milan Moves On to New Attacking Targets
With the Rashford deal now off the table, Milan is exploring alternative avenues to reinforce their attack before the transfer window closes. The Italian club has identified a trio of talented young forwards as potential loan signings:
- João Félix – The 25-year-old Portuguese international has struggled for regular playing time since his £46.3 million move from Atlético Madrid to Chelsea last summer.
- Joshua Zirkzee – The Dutch youth international impressed in Serie A with Bologna before making the switch to Manchester United, where he has found goals harder to come by.
- Rasmus Højlund – Another Serie A standout with Atalanta prior to his United transfer, the Danish striker is also on Milan’s radar as they seek attacking reinforcements.
Sources indicate that João Félix is Milan’s top choice, but deals for either Zirkzee or Højlund could be more feasible with United open to loan moves to bolster Ruben Amorim’s squad. However, the Red Devils would likely need to secure a replacement forward first before sanctioning a departure.
Walker Deal Unlocks Non-EU Slot
Milan’s decision to move on from Rashford was also influenced by their impending deal for Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker. The England defender’s arrival will fill the club’s remaining non-EU slot, making a move for Rashford impossible under Serie A regulations.
With Rashford declining the chance to move to the club, Milan are now set to complete a deal for Manchester City defender Kyle Walker to fill their one remaining slot for a non-EU player.
– ESPN Sources
Fallback Option: Giménez Permanent Deal
Should Milan fail to secure any of their loanee targets, sources suggest they could turn their attention to Feyenoord’s Mexican international Santiago Giménez. The 22-year-old would be a permanent signing, but any deal would be contingent on current center-back Fikayo Tomori departing the San Siro for a significant fee this month.
As the transfer deadline looms, Milan finds themselves in a race against time to bolster their attacking options for the second half of the Serie A campaign. With Juventus also reportedly interested in Zirkzee and Højlund, the Rossoneri will need to act swiftly and decisively to get their top targets over the line. The next few days promise to be crucial in shaping Stefano Pioli’s squad for the challenges ahead.
