Aston Villa eye sensational Marcus Rashford move! Premier League rivals considering late swoop to sign exiled Man Utd star, despite star's desire to join Barcelona

The departure of Jhon Duran to Al Nassr for €77 million (£64.5m/$80.43m) plus add-ons, along with Emi Buendia’s loan switch to Bayer Leverkusen, has left Villa with gaps to fill in their attack. According to The Athletic, The Villans, who need attacking reinforcements, have identified Rashford as a prime target. Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, is said to be an admirer of Rashford and has personally pushed for talks to be initiated. Emery believes he can help the 27-year-old rediscover his best form, given the right environment and tactical system.

Despite Villa’s interest, Rashford remains keen on either staying at Manchester United or moving to Barcelona. However, the financial constraints faced by the Catalan club could pose a significant hurdle in making the deal happen. Barcelona’s ability to fund a loan move remains uncertain, particularly when considering Rashford’s hefty wages of £325,000 per week. However, it has been suggested that the forward is willing to take a pay cut to join the Spanish giants.

Moreover, the report suggests, that Villa are not solely focused on Rashford, as they continue to monitor other attacking options. Chelsea’s Joao Felix and Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Asensio are also being considered, with both players long admired by the club and Emery.

Interest in Rashford extends beyond the Premier League, with several top European clubs exploring the possibility of signing him. AC Milan, Juventus, and Borussia Dortmund have all been linked with a move. Rashford’s representatives, led by his brother and agent Dwaine Maynard, even travelled to Milan earlier this month to hold discussions with the Serie A club over a potential loan move. Despite this, no deal has been finalised, leaving Rashford’s future hanging in the balance.