AC Milan have opted for Kyle Walker over Marcus Rashford, securing the right-back on a 12-month loan deal.

Walker requested a transfer from Manchester City just before their FA Cup third-round victory against Salford City. The 34-year-old has had a challenging season as City’s title defense has struggled.

Rashford can relate to his England teammate, having faced a tough two years himself. Earlier this month, he expressed a desire to leave Manchester United.

Milan had been in the running for both players, but Serie A regulations allow clubs to sign only one British player per year, necessitating a choice.

Reports indicate that Milan has chosen Walker, who is expected to travel to Italy soon for his unveiling.

As part of the agreement, Milan will cover most of Walker’s £150,000 weekly salary. Currently, the team sits eighth in Serie A, following the recent appointment of Portuguese manager Sérgio Conceição.

Walker is eager to finalize the move quickly, with sources describing him as a “Milan player.”

This decision effectively ends Milan’s pursuit of Rashford for now, at least until the summer transfer window. After his comments, Rashford initially faced exclusion from the squad under coach Ruben Amorim but returned as an unused substitute against Brighton. However, he was again omitted from the match against Brighton, with Amorim stating, “Rashford is not here, and in the recent games we’ve lost, he wasn’t here either. I won’t play someone I don’t believe is best for the team.”

Meanwhile, City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that Walker’s transfer request likely marks the end of his time at the club. “Kyle asked to explore the option to play abroad. I prefer players whose minds are here,” Guardiola stated. “We cannot overlook the role Kyle played in our success over the years. However, he wants to explore the possibility of playing in another country during the latter part of his career.”