Monaco have put Marcus Rashford on their shortlist of targets for the January transfer window and are willing to offer a realistic package to land the Manchester United forward.

Rashford, 27, has admitted he would consider a move away from Old Trafford for a “new challenge”. Along with his brother and agent, Dwaine Maynard, the player travelled to Italy this week for exploratory talks with AC Milan. Borussia Dortmund are also interested.

With clubs making their interest known this week, Monaco believe Rashford can help them challenge for silverware this season as they enter the second half of the campaign third in Ligue 1 and in the Champions League play-off places.

Adi Hütter, who guided Monaco into the Champions League last season, is looking to bolster his attack and is close to signing Mika Biereth from Sturm Graz. The Dane is a central striker and Monaco are also looking at wide forwards including Rashford, whose United future remains uncertain.

Rashford has rejected lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia as he wants to remain playing in a high-profile competition that would give him a chance of winning back an England place under Thomas Tuchel.

Monaco would fit the bill in that respect. The principality also has no income tax, which could work in the club’s favour in terms of covering Rashford’s wages, which are upwards of £300,000 a week after a new deal was agreed in 2023.

Rashford has been left out of the last six Ruben Amorim squads at United, with illness cited at the weekend against Liverpool. The United head coach has told him that he wants to see an improvement in training.

Rashford’s wages potential stumbling block

While Maynard’s trip to Italy this week was widely reported, there is uncertainty over how much of Rashford’s wages Milan could cover. Juventus, meanwhile, are understood to be more interested in Rashford’s team-mate Joshua Zirkzee, who worked with manager Thiago Motta at Bologna.

After being dropped for the Manchester derby on Dec 15, which United won 2-1, Rashford gave an interview in which he said: “I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.”

Rashford is available to face Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday after missing last weekend’s 2-2 Premier League draw at Liverpool. Asked whether the player would still have a future at United if he was to leave on loan this month, Amorim said: “We will see, guys. Let’s focus on the game. They are available, they are training, we will see for this game.”

United still open to reluctant Mainoo sale

Meanwhile, Amorim says he wants to keep England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo but acknowledged the financial pressures facing the club.

United have yet to make any real progress over a new deal for Mainoo, who is contracted until 2027 with the option of another year, and are having to keep an open mind over sales, including with their brightest academy talents.

“Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players that we build for this club but we know the position the club is in at the moment,” said Amorim, who revealed that Altay Bayindir would start in goal ahead of André Onana against Arsenal.

“We will see. But I’m very happy. I really like the players, especially the guys from the academy,” Amorim said.

When asked specifically about Mainoo, the Portuguese added: “My players are always my favourites. I really love my players, I want to keep my players, especially the talented ones. It’s a special moment in this club, it’s a hard moment, I am really happy with Kobbie, he is improving and also with Garna [Alejandro Garnacho].”