Marcus Rashford to return to Man Utd early?! Ruben Amorim's side in talks with Aston Villa over cutting short England star's loan spell after huge injury blow

Rashford’s already troubled 2024–25 campaign may have reached an abrupt conclusion after he suffered a hamstring injury during training last week, which could rule him out for the remainder of the season. Even if Rashford were to return to full fitness in the next few weeks, he would be unable to feature in Villa’s final fixture, which happens to be against his parent club, Manchester United. That effectively leaves Villa’s home clash with Tottenham on May 18 as the last potential match in which he could participate — a game he is now almost certain to miss due to the injury.

In light of these developments, according toThe Sun,United and Aston Villa have opened discussions regarding the possibility of cutting short Rashford’s loan deal. While the agreement was initially set to run until the end of the season, there appears to be little point in keeping the 27-year-old on Villa’s books if he’s unable to contribute on the pitch in the closing weeks. If the two sides agree that Rashford won’t recover in time, an early return to Old Trafford could be arranged imminently.

Even if Rashford does return to Manchester United sooner than expected, his long-term prospects at the club remain bleak. It’s widely reported that the forward is not part of new manager Ruben Amorim’s plans for next season. As such, United are expected to entertain transfer offers for the attacker, who has struggled to maintain consistency and form in recent seasons. Rashford, for his part, is said to be aware of the situation and is preparing to hold discussions with United officials before mid-June to determine the next steps in his career.

Villa hold a £40 million ($53 million) purchase option as part of Rashford’s loan agreement, but as of now, they have not made a final decision on whether to make the move permanent. Much could depend on Rashford’s injury prognosis, his desire to stay, and Villa’s ambitions, particularly regarding European qualification.

Rashford is believed to favour a move that would allow him to continue competing in the UEFA Champions League. That could make Villa an attractive option if they qualify, though Barcelona have also been linked with a potential summer swoop.