Kyle Walker closes in on Manchester City exit as AC Milan move looms, Rashford left in limbo at Manchester United

Manchester City have reportedly agreed to send England international Kyle Walker on loan to AC Milan for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. The two clubs are now in negotiations over a possible purchase option to make the move permanent at a later date.

AC Milan have been chasing Walker for much of the January transfer window, increasing their interest after failing to secure a deal for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford. Due to registration rules limiting them to just one English player this month, Milan turned to the City defender.

Walker, who is under contract with Manchester City until the summer of 2026, has expressed his desire to leave the club in recent weeks in order to experience playing abroad before the end of his career.

Reports in Italy say City have agreed to send the 34-year-old on loan for free. However, with the defender still tied to the club until 2026, Milan must reach an agreement for a possible permanent transfer.

The Italian club are said to have reached an agreement in principle with Walker on a contract that will run until the end of the 2026-27 season, but negotiations are ongoing over a purchase option to be included in the loan deal.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s interest in Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has cooled, according to club director Deco. Despite being one of the clubs linked with the 27-year-old, Barcelona are currently prioritizing contract renewals and dealing with Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns.

Rashford, whose contract with United runs until 2028, is said to be interested in a move to Barcelona. His representatives recently met with club officials in Lisbon ahead of their Champions League clash with Benfica.

However, Barcelona’s financial constraints and squad depth have tempered their pursuit of the England international.

Deco confirmed that Barcelona’s focus remains on renewing key contracts and securing possible reinforcements later on. He also indicated that FFP issues remain a major factor in any potential move for Rashford.

As of now, Barcelona can look to sign Rashford on loan, but only if they can avoid breaching FFP regulations. United, however, would likely need to cover a significant chunk of Rashford’s wages to facilitate a move. Rashford last appeared for Manchester United in mid-December in a 2-1 win against FC Viktoria Plzeň.