5 clubs targeting Marcus Rashford named amid Man Utd exit rumours | OneFootball

Five Saudi Pro League clubs are reportedly interested in offering Manchester United's wantaway star Marcus Rashford an "escape route".

The 27-year-old forward has become embroiled in an unexpected transfer storm. After getting dropped for the Manchester derby, Rashford publicly declared his desire to seek "a new challenge". United's incoming head coach Ruben Amorim has done his best to quash the speculation, but numerous reports insist that the academy graduate is very much up for sale in January.

The Telegraph state that Rashford has been added to the wishlist of Saudi Pro League clubs, joining Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.

The entire Saudi top flight operates as one organism in the transfer market, with director of football Michael Emenalo overseeing all the ins and outs during the off-season. The four clubs owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) - Al Ittihad, Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ahli - are naturally put forward as interested parties.

Marcus Rashford's future at United is in jeopardy / Michael Regan/GettyImages

Newly promoted Al Qadsiah, a side spearheaded by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang which has climbed to third place at the season's halfway point, are also thought to be keeping tabs on the England international.

The report claims that Saudi clubs "will not be fazed" by the need to pay a transfer fee for Rashford, who still has three-and-a-half years on his contract. United would reportedly be willing to accept as little as £40m for their homegrown star.

Despite this supposed willingness to complete a deal, it will not be a straightforward process. All Pro League clubs have quotas for non-Saudi players capped at eight. Rashford is also keen on remaining in Europe, with a move to La Liga a dream scenario.

According to the report, any deal is "far more likely" to be in summer than January, leaving Rashford in limbo for six more uncomfortable months.