Sport

Marcus Rashford’s representation are reportedly in Italy to discuss a potential loan move

Could he really be leaving this month?

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 8th January 2025

Marcus Rashford’s representatives are reportedly in Italy to discuss the possibility of a loan move for the Manchester United player.

The Wythenshawe winger has been left out of the matchday squad for five of Man United’s last six games, including the derby against rivals Liverpool this past weekend (in which he has scored multiple times), as head coach Rúben Amorim continues to assess his squad.

As a result of Rashford‘s absence, talk of a potential move away from his boyhood club has once again ramped up now the January transfer window is open, though there has been speculation surrounding his future at the club prior to his recent omission.

Although there are several clubs thought to be monitoring the Rashford situation at Old Trafford, it looks as though AC Milan is one of those leading the chase for the 27-year-old via a loan deal.

Detailed in an article by journalist Laurie Whitwell, along with transfer expert David Ornstein and The Athletic‘s resident Serie A writer James Horncastle, the red half of Milan is one of the teams most interested in trying to sign Rashford as early as this month.

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According to the piece, the number ten’s brother and agent Dwaine Maynard flew to Milan on Tuesday to discuss the prospect of a transfer, though talks are still said to be in the “preliminary stage”.

It’s unclear whether an option to buy is on the table but it is claimed has already turned down offers from Saudi Arabia.

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This comes after Rashford gave the first real indication that a move away, be it on loan or permanently, and “a new challenge” might be on the cards in an extended interview with football writer Henry Winter.

However, the Italian side has a pretty healthy selection of players in Rashford’s position, not least of all their pacey and often prolific forward, Rafael Leão, who is also considered one of the most in-demand attackers even despite some injury setbacks upsetting his rhythm of late.

With that in mind, Whitwell goes on to explain that as well as PSG’s well-publicised and long-standing interest in the United and England star – though he was left out of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad – other European suitors include fellow Italian team Juventus and German outfit Borussia Dortmund.

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Dortmund famously took Jadon Sancho back on loan for the remainder of the 23/24 season when the youngster ended up in similar ousted circumstances when Erik ten Hag was still in charge.

If rumours are to be believed, even Premier League rivals Arsenal are supposedly ‘keeping an eye on’ Rashford, especially since the United are understood to be facing financial pressures regarding PSR (profit and sustainability rules) and FFP (financial fair play).

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, his INEOS board and the manager himself have all made it clear that player sales would need to be made to even consider adding new names to the squad.

At the club since the age of seven, the Red Devils is all Rashford has ever known and despite a stunning breakthrough campaign as a teenager and several strong years as a first-team talisman since, including his best-ever statistical season (30 goals, nine assists) in 2022/23, his performances have been under fire in more recent times.

Considered a somewhat streaky player who tends to enjoy impressive ‘purple patches’ when he is in form, there’s no question as to his talent and natural ability when at the top of his game, but Amorim evidently isn’t 100% happy with his level of application at present.

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That being said, the United boss did issue Rashford with a rallying cry of sorts, declaring this new project as “the biggest challenge” of all and insisting that he wants nothing more than to see the Manc sporting star back to his best.

On the other hand, football fans will have already seen how moves to Italy have benefitted former MUFC players like a currently red-hot Scott McTominay and Napoli teammate Romelu Lukaku, who returned to Inter Milan back in 2022 – who Matteo Darmian also joined to become a title-winner – before switching to once again find his goalscoring boots with the league leaders.

What do you think, Reds – would a loan move to Italy suit Rashford right now? Alternatively, would you rather him stay and fight for his place or sell him permanently?

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Featured Images — The Overlap (screenshot via YouTube)

Sport

Stockport County’s playoff fortunes hampered following Callum Camps injury

Danny Jones Danny Jones Callum Camps injured Stockport County

Stockport County’s luck as we head into the crunch time period has taken a less than ideal turn as Callum Camps is confirmed to be injured.

The club now has a clearer idea of how long he’ll be out for, but it’s not great news.

Camps was subbed off in just the 21st minute during County‘s recent away clash with title contenders Wrexham after a full-blooded tackle by fellow midfielder George Dobson – a challenge which went unpunished on the day, much to the frustration of the travelling fans.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester on Friday, 28 March, manager Dave Challinor revealed that the physios expect him to be out for “at least 6 weeks”, meaning he’ll likely miss the rest of the season.

As one of County’s most crucial and experienced players, his presence in the middle of the park is likely to be a big miss, especially with the playoff scraps looming large for the promotion hopefuls.

Challinor acknowledged that it’s a big blow not only for the club but the Tameside-born Northern Ireland international, cutting a quietly frustrated figure in his interview and giving away little regarding Camps’ current mentality besides his obvious “disappointment.”

At 29 years old and running out of contract this summer, the injury will no doubt bring an added pressure regarding his future as well, though you would suspect most Stopfordians would like to see him stay at Edgeley Park come 2025/26 if possible.

Not only a reliable operator in the engine room but also considered by plenty of fans as one of their best players this season, there’ll be lots of Hatters worrying how much of an impact this will have on how this year’s League One conclusion pans out.

Even with prior fitness issues in recent years, he’s still managed to make an impact and work his way back into the first-choice matchday squad, and many believe he should be more of a mainstay on the teamsheet for his national team.

To make matters worse, he’s not the only one set to watch the remaining games from the sidelines, as defender Ryan Rydel also looks set to be out for the next few weeks.

Following an injury suffered at Bolton Wanderers the week prior to the Wrexham game, the Oldham-born left-back who had made 15 appearances for County this season – half of those as an increasingly regular young member of the starting XI – a hamstring problem looks to have cut his campaign short too.

With just over half a dozen league fixtures left, it’ll be interesting to see how they’ll fare if they stay within the playoff places as predicted.

It’s been a frustrating few months for Stockport as they also had to bid a reluctant goodbye to rising star and high-flying loanee Louie Barry, who was recalled by his parent club Aston Villa only for him to be loaned out to Hull City and end up getting injured himself.

When it rains, it pours, as they say.

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Featured Images — Stockport County (screenshot via YouTube)

Sport

The 2025 Manchester Marathon is set to create the UK’s biggest-ever day of running

Danny Jones Danny Jones

The 2025 Manchester Marathon is just a month away now and as this year’s race is once again set to coincide with another major event (quite literally), it’s about to become the biggest day of running in UK history.

Like, ever…

Greater Manchester is no stranger to making sporting history, be it athletics, football, tennis or otherwise – you name it, we can lay our claim to plenty.

However, stuff like this always makes us feel part of something truly ‘greater’ and genuinely special as the tens of thousands preparing to run through the city centre and surrounding areas are about to put us in the record books in the running world.

manchester marathon history
Credit: Manchester Marathon

As more than 36,000 racers, joggers, fundraisers and downright legends are scheduled to take on the Manchester Marathon this year – with the annual event on course to break its attendance record – even more will be taking on the equivalent down south, given it is one of the official World Majors.

Recently, the Manchester and London Marathons have been colliding, and with the 2025 editions of both due to take place on the same day for the second year in a row, it means there’ll be an unprecedented number of participants taking on the 26.2-mile challenge.

More accurately, it’s predicted that over 90,000 runners will be out on the roads of the nation’s capital and its second city (yeah, you heard us, Birmingham), which will be the greatest concurrent number in British history – at least on record when it comes to marathons.

The potential milestones don’t stop with just those taking part, either; as per an official press release from the event time, it’s predicted to be a record-breaking day for charity too.

An estimated £80m is set to be raised for charitable causes, including the adidas Manchester Marathon charity partners: the British Heart Foundation, Alzheimer’s Society, The Christie and Cancer Research UK. Incredible stuff.

Commenting on what will be a historic day for UK Marathons, Andrew Smith, CEO of A.S.O. UK, said: “Having the adidas Manchester Marathon and the London Marathon take place on the same day — Sunday 27th April — marks a landmark moment for British running.

“We’re incredibly proud to be part of this historic occasion, inspiring 90,000 people to take on 26.2 miles, supported by nearly a million spectators across the country.

“This year’s brand-new city centre finish [line] in Manchester will bring a whole new energy, and the friendly North vs South rivalry will only make the atmosphere even more electric.”

As if all this wasn’t already momentous enough, nearly a million spectators are expected to line the streets to cheer on all the PB hopefuls and fundraisers – we can only hope for similarly groundbreaking crowds and levels of support to mark the occasion.

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Featured Images — adidas Manchester Marathon (supplied)

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