New frontrunners for Rashford emerge, two clubs track Grealish – Paper Round

Monaco have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United this month, The Sun reports. United have been exploring options whereby the forward could leave in the January transfer window, and it is believed Monaco could afford the most attractive loan deal.

“West Ham also have him on their radar with United looking for around £40m.

“Rashford’s brother and agent Dwaine Maynard wants him to go to Barcelona but the LaLiga club are barred from signing new players due to debts currently running to almost £850M.

“Monaco, however, could be an option until the end of the season.”

Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund are both tracking Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, according to The Sun. Grealish’s future at City remains uncertain with the England international in and out of Guardiola’s side.

Grealish has subsequently been linked with Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle, but a summer move abroad could be in the offing.

“And a switch to either of those sides would make him an instant fans favourite and allow him to resurrect his faltering England career.

“Grealish has struggled for Guardiola’s side this season, starting 11 of his 20 games acros all competitions, scoring one goal, and providing four assists in his 1036 minutes of action.”

Manchester City are looking into a potential loan deal for Douglas Luiz, the Telegraph reports. Luiz left Villa for Juventus in the summer, but Pep Guardiola could yet bring the Brazilian back to Manchester.

“Luiz, 26, has struggled for playing time at Juventus having failed to make much of an impact since arriving from Aston Villa for £42m last summer, and is thought to be available this month.

“Juventus are believed to favour an outright sale or a loan with an obligation to buy but City want a straight loan with no clauses attached if they were to do something.

“Luiz is not necessarily City’s first option, with the club looking at a number of players, but the Brazilian is known to them, having been on their books from 2017-19 and is Premier League proven.”

Aston Villa have rejected West Ham’s club-record £57m bid for Jhon Duran and value the striker closer to £80m, the Telegraph reports. Villa are unwilling to sell the Colombian in January, with the club said to be frustrated with the timing of the bid ahead of their Champions League match at Monaco on Tuesday, live on TNT Sports.

Duran was a target for West Ham in the summer, but he went on to sign a new contract at Villa.

“A bid of £57m would have eclipsed West Ham’s previous transfer record of £51 million for Lucas Paquetá, who joined from French club Lyon in 2022.

“Durán signed a new contract to 2030 in October last year and Villa’s valuation is thought to be around the £80m mark.

“West Ham, who have agreed a deal with Chelsea to reunite new head coach Graham Potter with recruitment analyst Kyle Macaulay, made an offer of around £32m for the 21-year-old last summer and their latest bid comes nowhere near a price Villa would reluctantly consider.

“Paris St-Germain are also interested in Durán, but the high transfer fee could prove beyond them.

“West Ham are unlikely to return with another bid and will now consider alternative targets including RB Leipzig’s André Silva, Brighton’s Evan Ferguson and Taiwo Awoniyi at Nottingham Forest.”