Man United discover brutal Marcus Rashford transfer reality and it could cost them millions

If Manchester United thought that it would be easy to get Marcus Rashford off the books in January - or indeed in the summer - then they may well view things differently now. It has been three weeks since his admission that a change of scenery is needed, and very little has happened.

Offers from Saudi Arabia have come in but were swiftly rejected. There is no interest from the 27-year-old to join others in the Middle East on an early retirement with a big payday.

Outside of that, it is reports and suggestions from potential suitors. There is fluff, chances, possibilities, maybes, coulds. It is typical transfer window language but there are merely scraps to feed off right now in terms of genuine exit news.

Attempts to link him with Arsenal fell flat quickly. There should be little surprise that Mikel Arteta and his side have little interest in offering top dollar for someone over 18 months removed from being on top form.

Ange Postecoglou laughed off Tottenham as a destination before it had even been properly put to him. Juventus, deemed one of the Old Money European options that could take him, have openly commented about Joshua Zirkzee before turning to Rashford.

There is only so far a name will take you now, and the financial disparity across the continent has made Rashford an unattractive asset to not only have while he struggles on the field but a monetary black hole for onlookers as well. His enormous wages need to be paid somehow.

Even a 50% cut, which there is no reason to believe he is ready to accept yet, would have him as a top earner at most clubs. The justification for even the risk-taking chiefs out there, is that nearly two years ago he scored 30 goals in a season. Before that, he was in and out of form,