Chelsea are weighing up a shock swoop for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford before the summer transfer window closes next week.
According to The Independent, the Blues are open to bringing in another versatile attacker despite already spending over £300 million on new recruits this summer.
The Stamford Bridge hierarchy are assessing their options in the final days of the window as they look to add further depth to their attacking options.
The Independent claims that Rashford’s name “has been broached” in discussions among Chelsea’s recruitment team as they seek a “versatile” option up front.
Any potential approach is said to hinge on more players departing Stamford Bridge before the transfer deadline arrives next week.
Chelsea are specifically in the market for a versatile attacker should Nicolas Jackson be sold, with Aston Villa reportedly submitting an offer in the region of €70 million for the Senegalese international.
Rashford, 28, spent last season on loan with Barcelona but returned to Manchester United this summer, coming off the bench in their 2-0 defeat to Hull City on Saturday.
Barcelona opted against triggering their €30 million option to sign him permanently, despite a season in which the forward registered 28 goal contributions across all competitions.
Under new manager Xabi Alonso, Chelsea are set to operate in a 3-4-3 formation, with Rashford’s ability to play across the frontline making him a strong candidate to support Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, and Joao Pedro.
Michael Carrick is reportedly keen for Rashford to play a key role at United, though that view is not universally shared within the club’s hierarchy, with some preferring to remove his reported £300,000-per-week wages from the books.
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur have all previously explored a move for Rashford, only to be deterred by the player’s camp and his substantial wage demands.
Chelsea would demand at least £120 million for Enzo Fernandez as they attempt to balance the books and potentially fund any move for the England international before next week’s deadline.