Aston Villa have emerged as late contenders in the race to sign Manchester United’s out-of-favour striker, Marcus Rashford, as the January transfer window nears its conclusion. The Birmingham-based club is exploring the possibility of adding the English forward to their squad amid their ongoing search for attacking reinforcements.
The 27-year-old England international has not played for the Red Devils since their Europa League fixture against Viktoria Plzen on December 12. His prolonged absence from Erik ten Hag’s squad has further fueled speculation about his potential departure from Old Trafford this winter.
Rashford, who has been linked with loan moves to AC Milan, Juventus, and Borussia Dortmund, reportedly remains keen on a switch to Barcelona. The La Liga giants have been long-time admirers of the forward, and he sees the Spanish club as an ideal destination to revive his career.
However, Barcelona’s ongoing financial struggles have cast serious doubt over the feasibility of any deal. The club’s inability to accommodate Rashford’s hefty £325,000-per-week wages under their tight salary cap has significantly reduced the likelihood of the move materializing. As a result, Rashford’s future remains uncertain with just days left in the transfer window.
Aston Villa’s sudden interest in Rashford stems from their urgent need to strengthen their attack following Jhon Duran’s £64 million transfer to Al Nassr and Emi Buendia’s move to Bayer Leverkusen. With Unai Emery’s side aiming to maintain their push for a top-four finish in the Premier League, they view Rashford as a potential addition to support their leading goal scorer, Ollie Watkins.
Despite the growing interest from Villa, sources suggest that Rashford remains hesitant about making a temporary switch to the club. Given his preference for Barcelona, it may take significant persuasion from Villa’s management to convince him to join their squad, even if only on loan until the end of the season.
Rashford’s current season has been underwhelming, with the forward managing only four goals in 15 appearances across all competitions. His lack of form has led to criticism, with Manchester United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, making a blunt remark last week: “I would rather pick my 63-year-old goalkeeping coach over the wantaway forward.” This comment reflects the growing tensions between Rashford and United’s management, adding further uncertainty to his future at the club.
Having signed a five-year contract extension with Manchester United in the summer of 2023, Rashford now finds himself at a critical juncture in his career. With the transfer window deadline fast approaching, he faces a crucial decision on whether to fight for his place at United, push for a dream move to Barcelona, or consider a loan spell at Villa to rediscover his form.