Marcus Rashford bombshell sees first move made for wantaway Man Utd star

Marcus Rashford will be offered an escape route from Manchester United by the Saudi Pro League, who have reportedly put the forward on their wishlist of "elite targets".

Rashford looks certain to end his two-decade spell at Old Trafford in January after his bombshell interview confirming he wants to leave the club.

The 27-year-old was dropped from the United squad ahead of their 2-1 win over rivals Manchester City on Sunday and appears out of favour under boss Ruben Amorim.

Rashford has been with the club since the age of seven but told journalist Henry Winter he is looking for a "new challenge" after seeing his form decline rapidly with United.

Amorim insisted he wanted Rashford to stay and claimed the England star had the "biggest challenge" right in front of him, but Saudi clubs are now expected to test United's resolve for the player, according to the Telegraph.

Rashford prefers a move to a club in Europe but the riches on offer in the Saudi Pro League could certainly turn his head, given that not many clubs would be willing to pay his £40million price tag and £325,000-a-week wages.

Saudi football chiefs are already chasing Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah but a move for Rashford would be seen as an ambitious one with officials not fazed by having to splash the cash.

Rashford is being monitored by the top four Saudi clubs Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli, the report claims, while Al-Qadsiah are also said to be interested.

Any move would have its complications because Saudi teams have a quota of eight foreign players allowed at one club, with Al-Ittihad already exceeding that threshold. If Rashford were to sign for a Saudi club, he'd join big name stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar and N'Golo Kante in the division.

Any Saudi transfer for Rashford would be more likely to happen in the summer, the report goes on to say, with the Pro League already starting its winter break. A loan move to a European club with an option to buy might be the most likely option with Rashford's future at United looking bleak.

He was not spotted among United's squad as they departed Manchester for their Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Tottenham on Thursday, though Alejandro Garnacho - who was also dropped from the City clash - was present. Amorim is said to be unimpressed with Rashford's public declaration and wishes he had kept his feelings private.