Marcus Rashford is set to seal Aston Villa loan transfer with £40m buy option – but Man Utd will pay star £81,000-a-week

Despite previously insisting he would never play for another Premier League club, Marcus Rashford is now set to join Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United. The 27-year-old forward will undergo a medical today after agreeing to a deal that will see United continue to cover 25% of his £325,000-a-week wages. Villa also have the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season for approximately £40 million.

A source within United revealed that Rashford was informed he had no future at Old Trafford as long as Ruben Amorim remained in charge. Although Rashford had initially hoped to secure a move to a top European club, interest in him was not as strong as expected. Villa first expressed interest last November and has now presented an appealing offer—maintaining his current salary and providing the chance to play in the Champions League.

Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, has been actively seeking reinforcements after selling Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr for £70 million. With just days left in the transfer window, he confirmed that the club was working on securing new signings to strengthen their squad ahead of the Champions League last-16 stage.

Meanwhile, England’s new head coach, Thomas Tuchel, has reassured Rashford that regular playing time at Villa could revive his international career. The forward was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024 but remains hopeful of reclaiming his place in the national team. Tuchel has reportedly told Rashford and his representatives that he sees him as a key part of England’s future plans.

Tensions between Rashford and Amorim reportedly escalated after United’s 4-0 win over Everton, when the manager accused him of breaching club discipline by going out at night. Rashford denied the allegations, demanding proof and asking Amorim whether he was being called a liar. Their relationship never recovered, leading to Rashford’s exclusion from the squad for a crucial Manchester derby. Two weeks later, Rashford openly stated in an interview that he was seeking “a new challenge” and was ready to move on from United.

The England international emphasized that his departure would be without bitterness, stressing that he would not speak negatively about United and wanted to leave on good terms. He stated that when the time comes, he will make a formal statement to clarify his decision. With his move to Villa now on the verge of completion, Rashford is hoping to revive his career and make a fresh start under Emery’s management.