JUVENTUS have turned down an offer for Manchester United misfit Marcus Rashford.
But incredibly, the Italian giants are more interested in the striker’s Old Trafford team-mate Joshua Zirkzee.
Rashford, left out of Rubin Amorim’s squad for a fourth successive time in the 2-0 Boxing Day loss to Wolves, wants to leave United and is being offered by various agents around Europe.
Juventus boss Thiago Motta is on the look-out for January reinforcements and while he is not keen on Rashford, he wants to land Zirkzee from United, the player he managed at Bologna last season.
The Dutch forward has struggled since his £36.5million summer move from Bologna.
He has scored only four times in 26 appearances although only 10 of them have been starts.
Zirkzee, 23, has struggled in English football but his reputation remains strong in Serie A.
Motta believes he could help him flourish as a player, having worked so closely with him after signing him from Bayern Munich in 2022.
Yet United are unlikely to be willing to suffer a financial hit on a player so soon after shelling out a considerable sum for the forward.
Despite Amorim claiming Rashford still has a future at the club, United would be willing to offload the England international.
Yet despite Rashford being offered to several teams, including Barcelona, both the transfer fee and his £350,000-a-week wages are a huge stumbling block.
Amorim delivered his most ominous verdict yet on Rashford's future after United's woeful defeat at the Molineux on Thursday.
Asked if Rashford has shown anything different since being left out, Amorim replied: "If he is not here you can make up your mind.
"It’s always the same reason it’s going to be.
"We have to be the same professionals, I have to be the same guy winning or losing.
"Losing, I have to be stronger so I will continue with my idea until the end."
Juve coach Motta, though, could still sign another Englishman and that is Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori for about £20m.