There are plenty of clubs linked with an interest in Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford in the January transfer window, with the player's future, at least in the short term, looking likely to be away from Old Trafford.

Rashford has fallen down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim - and has spoken publicly about wanting a new challenge. As reported by The Manchester Evening News, he has turned down offers to play in Saudi Arabia with a stay in Europe looking the most likely option.

AC Milan have been the most heavily linked clubs in the last few days, with talks reportedly going on between United and the Italian club. It is, however, claimed Milan would only wish to pay half of the player's wages - in a straight loan deal.

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There has been talk of Premier League interest, with the clubs initially unnamed. However, talkSPORT's Alex Crook has claimed that West Ham United are "tracking developments" over Rashford and they want to be kept informed on what happens at Old Trafford and beyond with regards to his situation.

The Hammers are starting life under new head coach Graham Potter, who was officially announced as Julen Lopetegui's replacement on Thursday morning. The new boss will have just a few weeks to assess, and then possibly add to, his squad in the January window.

It's not the first time that West Ham have (potentially) moved for a United star struggling for form, either. Back in January 2021, the club completed a deal to sign United Academy graduate Jesse Lingard on a six-month loan deal.

During his time at the London Stadium, Lingard caught the eye with his performances. In his 16 games for the club, he scored nine goals and provided four assists.

Writing for The Players' Tribune a few months after completing that loan deal, Lingard spoke about how it helped him after a tough time at United. "When the deal finally got done, I was buzzing to start fresh," he wrote.

"If the medical had been done in time, I would've played against Liverpool two days after I signed. I was that ready.

"I felt like I just fit in straight-away. There's a great group of lads at West Ham.

"They made that transition so easy for me.”

Lingard added at a later juncture: "When I came back to United, I felt like a different person. I'm more mature, more confident. I'm taking more responsibility. To be fair, I've got to credit [David] Moyes and the West Ham lads for that. Cheers for everything, boys."

West Ham have had a difficult campaign so far. They sit in 14th place in the Premier League table and fell to a 4-1 defeat against United's neighbours Manchester City in their last top-flight outing.

An approach to United, therefore, does come as a bit of a shock, given the other teams linked and the cost of any potential deal. However, all parties could look at the impact the same move had on Lingard.

That could come into the thinking of both clubs and the player if West Ham do follow up their mooted interest. A successful loan move to another Premier League club would increase Rashford's value and United could either get a confident player back to put back into the squad, or sell him on for a higher price than they may get this window.