Marcus Rashford’s Manchester United stock is at an all-time low, but one Old Trafford legend has suggested a swap deal that would see the Red Devils land a superstar replacement

Dwight Yorke has urged Manchester United to pursue a trade deal for Rafael Leao if Marcus Rashford is sent to AC Milan.

Outcasted Rashford is understood to have been made available for transfer after going public in December that he was “ready for a new challenge.” Ruben Amorim has since done away with the player, who has not figured in each of United’s last six Premier League games – other than being an unused sub against Newcastle – amid talk of an exit.

Rashford’s party is believed to have held talks with Milan. And United icon Yorke – a treble-winner in 1999 – has suggested one potential exchange deal that could make sense for both sides.

“I’m not sure why AC Milan want Marcus Rashford as he’s a left-winger and they have Rafael Leao already,” he told Coin Casino. “These giant clubs, like AC Milan, don’t bring in big players to be a squad member, they will be bringing in Rashford as a starter. Maybe Man United should bring in Rafael Leao in return, but he’d have to fit Ruben Amorim’s system and produce results on the pitch.”

Like Amorim, Leao has a history with Sporting CP after coming through the academy of the Portuguese giants. And it’s easy to see why the 37-cap Portugal international would make for an appealing target given he shares a common tongue with the United boss.

The player also has that in common with new manager Sergio Conceicao, who took charge at the San Siro in the new year. And the former Porto boss will be doing his utmost to ensure his compatriot remains in Milan at least for the remainder of this season.

Leao is currently valued at £63million, according to Transfermarkt, and has been arguably Milan’s most valuable player for some time; only Theo Hernandez rivals that status. Rumours have emerged in the past linking him with a potential exit, but Milan will have the final say on his departure considering he has a contract until 2028 – and with no release clause.

The 25-year-old has recorded seven goals and seven assists in 25 appearances across all competitions this season. He’s currently on track to keep pace with his scoring contributions from recent seasons, having averaged 15 goals per campaign for the last three years.

Rashford boasts similar figures going back three seasons, though that’s largely skewed by the 30-goal campaign he enjoyed in 2022/23. And United – who don’t wish to offload him to a Premier League rival this month – will be hoping his suitors abroad bear that campaign in mind as they look to offload a player who may no longer be happy at the club.

United have additional need to pursue left-wing reinforcements considering Alejandro Garnacho has also been linked with an exit. The Argentina international is reportedly wanted by Napoli as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia stands on the verge of a much-anticipated move to Paris Saint-Germain.