European giant 'considers shock £40m move for Marcus Rashford'

Bayern Munich are reportedly considering a move for Marcus Rashford, with the out-of-favour Man United forward reportedly placed on the club's transfer longlist.

Rashford, 27, has been exiled at Old Trafford, last playing for the Red Devils in December and he was loaned out to Aston Villa for the second half of the season.

The forward impressed at Villa Park, scoring four goals and adding six assists in 17 appearances in all competitions, but the club confirmed earlier this week that it would not take up a £40m option to sign him permanently.

Rashford has been linked to a whole host of clubs across Europe this summer, including Newcastle and Barcelona, with the Catalan giants said to be the forward's dream destination.

According to German newspaper Bild, Bayern Munich have now entered the race to sign Rashford this summer.

The German champions have been looking to strengthen their attacking options this summer, but have already seen key target Florian Wirtz join Liverpool for £115m.

Vincent Kompany's side have been strongly linked to Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, while Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade is reportedly their top target up front.

The report claims Rashford has been added to their long list of targets, with the 27-year-old viewed as having the 'perfect profile' due to being able to play both wide and up front.

Rashford, however, is reportedly behind PSG's Bradley Barcola, Williams, AC Milan's Rafael Leao and Liverpool's Luis Diaz as they target attacking reinforcements.

Man United currently value Rashford at around £40m but his £315,000-per-week contract, which runs until 2028, could prove a stumbling block to any transfer.

If Rashford were to make the move to Germany, he would link up with his England international team-mate Harry Kane.

With no deal yet agreed and United set to return to pre-season training next Monday, Rashford could face an awkward reunion with Red Devils boss Amorim.

The return of the Red Devils' stars will be staggered given their various international commitments at the end of the campaign, so Rashford's first session back at his boyhood club could be delayed to avoid any lingering issues.

But, if Rashford is unable to find a way out, he will have no choice but to eventually return to training under Amorim, who has been clear that the 62-cap England international does not have a future under him.

Amorim first dropped Rashford for the Manchester derby in December, a game which United won 2-1, and the forward failed to feature again before he joined Villa on deadline day.

Shortly after he was first excluded by Amorim, Rashford, who has played 426 times for United, dropped the bombshell that he was ready for a 'new challenge'.

'For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,' he told Henry Winter in an interview.

‘When I leave it’s going to be “no hard feelings”. You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.

'If I know that a situation is already bad I’m not going to make it worse. I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person. When I leave I’ll make a statement and it will be from me.'

When asked if he would always be a Red at heart, Rashford – who has been at the club from the age of seven and who made his debut in 2016 - replied: ‘Yes! 100 per cent. 100 per cent.’

Before he departed to Villa, Amorim had then said Rashford 'has to change' to win back his place and it is very unlikely that he will ever play for United again.