AC Milan has been linked with signing England internationals Marcus Rashford and Kyle Walker, but Serie A regulations make it impossible for both to join this January.
Rashford’s time at Manchester United appears to be over, with the forward seeking a fresh challenge after being left out of manager Ruben Amorim’s plans.
Meanwhile, Walker has asked to leave Manchester City following a dip in form, with Pep Guardiola hinting the defender may have played his last game for the club.
Despite their struggles this season, both players have attracted significant interest. Milan leads the race for the pair, with Rashford expected to join on loan and Walker likely to make a permanent move, possibly as a free transfer. However, Serie A’s strict non-EU player rule presents a challenge.
The league only allows clubs to sign two non-EU players per season. Milan has already used their 2024/25 quota, signing Strahinja Pavlovic from Red Bull Salzburg and Emerson Royal from Tottenham during the summer. Although Tammy Abraham joined on loan from Roma, he is exempt as he moved within Serie A.
A special exception permits signing a third non-EU player if they come from the UK or Albania. This means Milan can only sign either Rashford or Walker in January, pushing any plans to sign both players to the summer transfer window.
Reports from Sky Italia suggest Rashford is Milan’s top priority, and the club plans to approach the 27-year-old soon. However, securing him could be difficult due to high competition from clubs like Arsenal, West Ham, Borussia Dortmund, and Monaco. Additionally, Rashford’s £325,000-a-week wages might deter potential suitors.
Walker, with 18 months left on his £175,000-a-week contract, also has interest from European clubs and the Saudi Pro League.
AC Milan legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, now an advisor to the club, spoke about Rashford’s potential move: “I know him well from our time at United. Milan is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and every player dreams of being here. It won’t be easy, but we’ll see.”
For now, Milan must choose between Rashford and Walker, with Rashford appearing to be their priority target.