Rashford has been closing in on a loan move to Milan in the January transfer window after making it clear he wanted to leave his boyhood club. The 27-year-old £325,000-a-week contract at United had put paid to a permanent move this month, but a subsidised loan to Milan had looked to be a good compromise. 

Rashfords brother and agent Dane has been in the Italian city trying to thrash out the details, with Milans advisor and the United striker former team-mate, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, keen to get things sorted. The wheels appeared to be in motion with Milan making space in their squad by selling forward Noah Okafor to RB Leipzig. 

Okafor had said his goodbyes and travelled to Germany on Monday to complete a medical ahead of an initial loan deal with Leipzig that could become permanent for around ¬25million (£21m) in the summer. However, that deal is now off, according to Sky Germany, who report that Leipzig have cancelled the deal. 

The Swiss forward has missed the last four Serie A games due to a muscle tear and has subsequently failed his medical. Leipzig are unwilling to go ahead with the deal, given he won't be immediately available for them. 

That appears to be bad news for Rashford, who might have to look to other clubs for a move now. Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund have held discussions with Rashford's representatives and United, but the money involved could make things difficult. 

By contrast, Okafor's collapsed move could be good news for Kyle Walker, who is also being eyed by Milan. Pep Guardiola revealed on Saturday night that Walker wants to quit Manchester City this month to pursue opportunities abroad and Milan are believed to be in pole position. 

Milan only have one spot available for a non-EU player, meaning they can't sign both Rashford and Walker in the January transfer window. Walker might now get the nod, with Milan potentially unable to shift injured Okafor. 

"Kyle went to Txiki Begiristain, Guardiola said after City 8-0 thrashing of Salford in the FA Cup. Maybe I am wrong but I am pretty convinced that you should keep no-one who doesn't want to be here. Kyle asked to explore. It doesn't mean it's going to happen, you never know. 

"I respect him a lot because I'm more than grateful. He has been here many years for us. He's been important for the national team but he said 'I want to explore, in my mind and my heart I want to explore it. I don't know what's going to happen."

Rashford could still find a move away from Old Trafford this month, with Napoli looking for forwards following Kvicha Kvaratskhelia's transfer request. Kvaratskhelia looks poised to join Paris Saint-Germain, who themselves are trying to find a new home for Randal Kolo Muani to make room for the Georgia international. 

PEP GUARDIOLA is expected to move out of his £8.5MILLION family home after he and his wife reportedly split. 

The Manchester City boss, who has three grown-up children with his fashion boss wife Cristina Serra, has always stayed at the family home when back in the Catalan capital. 

The luxury property in Barcelona's most-elite neighbourhood was once owned by Nou Camp legend Rafa Marquez. 

Guardiola, 53, bought the pad for £8.5m through a company he ran with his wife from a Russian businessman in February 2021. 

The four-storey house, near to a six-mile stretch of dirt tracks on the outskirts of Barcelona called Carretera de les Aigues, has a large swimming pool in its grounds. 

It occupies a plot of more than 22,000 square feet and the house itself is an impressive 8,000 square feet. 

Catalan press seized on the house purchase, which was made public in June 2021, as a sign Guardiola could be planning a return to Barcelona following Joan Laporta's election as its president. 

Cristina moved into the property two years after leaving Manchester to return to her home city. 

However, it is now being reported that Guardiola will move out of the property following his split from Cristina. 

Respected Spanish news outlet El Confidencial described the mansion today as the perfect place for a separation without anyone discovering when you leave or enter. 

Guardiola is expected to continue to live in luxury £2.7m paid in Salford. 

Although it insisted the couple had spent Christmas together at the property with their three children Maria, 24, Marius, 22, and 17-year-old Valentina. 

It added: s the mansion that marked the physical distancing of Guardiola and his wife in 2021.

Barcelona-based newspaper Sport report that Guardiola and Cristina decided to end their relationship in December while both in Spain. 

Their relationship is still "cordial, stable and friendly" despite taking the decision to part ways. 

Lorena Vazquez, the journalist who broke the shock news, has revealed Pep and Cristina have not split because of a third person. 

Vazquez, who forms part of a highly-respected duo of reporters known in Spain as the Mamarazzis, said overnig

But she has been switching between Spain and London - still spending time with Guardiola.

City declined to comment when approached over reports of the split.

Guardiola is believed to have met Cristina in her family's clothes store called Serra Claret when he was just 18.

He was modelling for designer Antonio Miro in Serra’s shop when he first met Cristina.

And even as recently as January 2024, the former midfielder revealed Cristina helps pick out his matchday outfits.

Serra Claret stock many brands he has worn on the touchline, such as Dsquared2, CP Company and Armani.

Despite meeting as teens, they waited a long time to get married.

They tied the knot in 2014 in an intimate ceremony in Spain - a private service just for close family in Catalonia.

Eldest daughter Maria, 24, is a model who has over 900,000 followers on Instagram.

Son Marius, 22, currently resides in Dubai and runs three companies - one of them dedicated to advertising and marketing.

And youngest Valentina, 17, is focused on studies.

Arsenal are open to letting Oleksandr Zinchenko join Borussia Dortmund on loan - but want a guaranteed fee in the summer. 

Zinchenko, 28, is understood to be keen to leave the Emirates, with talks between the player's representatives and the German giants Dortmund ongoing. The Ukrainian defender, who joined Arsenal in a £35million move from Manchester City in 2022, has only made 11 appearances this season, with a persistent calf injury limiting his game-time under Mikel Arteta. 

Having been an unused substitute during Sunday's bitter penalty shootout defeat at home to Manchester United in the FA Cup, Zinchenko's time at Arsenal appears to be up. Sky Germany report that Dortmund are keen to sign the former City left-back, with the Gunners open to a loan deal which includes an obligation to buy when the summer transfer window opens. 

That fee would be set at around 20million (£17m) with Zinchenko's contract at Arsenal running until June 2026.  Mirror Football  reported in July that fellow Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich were interested in signing Zinchenko, who played alongside Bayern boss Vincent Kompany for City. 

Even when fit, Zinchenko hasn't regained his place as Arsenal's first-choice left-back. Jurrien Timber, new £42m signing Riccardo Calafiori and Jakub Kiwior have shared the minutes, with youngster Miles Lewis-Skelly recently breaking into the starting line-up and Kieran Tierney now another option following his return from injury. 

Inter Milan have also been linked with signing Zinchenko, with manager Simone Inzaghi targeting a new wing-back this month. The 28-year-old was tipped for more of a midfield role this season given Arsenal's plethora of options at left-back, although Arteta has exclusively used him in defence since he signed him. 

"Obviously he has played in midfield," the Gunners boss said in pre-season. "But the main focus for him right now is playing as a full-back and the options and solutions he provides in that part. He knows the quality that he has, he knows the things he needs to improve. He's another one that is really at it."

Should he join Dortmund, Zinchenko would attempt to help Nuri Sahin's side recover from a poor start to the season. BVB are currently eighth in the Bundesliga table, although their Champions League campaign has been a different story. Dortmund are just a point and a place outside of the top eight with two games to go before the knockout play-offs which they hope to avoid.

Bayern Munich's chief, Freund, stated that Baroni was particularly eager to secure.

The promising attacking midfielder has been loaned to Lazio for the remainder of the season, with an option for a permanent transfer.

During a media conference today, Freund remarked, "We have engaged in numerous discussions with Ari, and he has shown significant improvement in training over the past few weeks.

"With this opportunity now available, the Lazio coach expressed a strong desire to have him on the team. We have established a favorable situation, and we hope he will receive ample playing time at Lazio.

"We believe this loan is beneficial, and we will monitor his progress closely. I am looking forward to witnessing his development."

Arsenal is reportedly set to secure the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad at the conclusion of the current season, having outmaneuvered Liverpool in the pursuit of the talented midfielder.

The player has attracted interest from several prominent Premier League clubs in recent months. However, Arsenal has emerged victorious in the competition for his services and is prepared to activate his £51 million release clause, according to the Daily Mail.

Although Arsenal expressed a desire to acquire Zubimendi immediately, Real Sociedad declined to release him prior to the season's end. The midfielder was also sought after by clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester City during the summer transfer window, but he opted to remain with his current team.

Initially, Arsenal was not considered a contender for his signature, although manager Mikel Arteta has been exploring the possibility of signing the Spanish international for the past year. Arteta bolstered his midfield by signing Mikel Merino in the summer, especially with Jorginho and Thomas Partey facing contract expirations this summer.

Zubimendi contributed to Spain's success in the Euro 2024 tournament, making an appearance in the final against England. He has earned 15 caps for his national team and played a significant role in helping Real Sociedad qualify for the Champions League last season.

In light of injuries to key players Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal has been advised to pursue a forward this month. However, Arteta emphasized that the club will not hastily engage in transfers, stating, "We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad. That’s been like that since day one."

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