BIRMINGHAM, England — Marcus Rashford is said to be undergoing a medical at Aston Villa as part of a prospective loan transfer from Manchester United, following a reported disagreement with the club’s new manager, Ruben Amorim.
The potential deal anticipates a permanent transfer amounting to 40 million pounds ($50 million), as reported by various British media outlets. Aston Villa is expected to pay a loan fee while also covering most of Rashford’s salary, which is believed to be around $400,000 each week.
Both clubs have not made any official comments regarding the transaction. The 27-year-old forward, who is one of the most recognized athletes in the Premier League, has not featured for United since December 12, primarily due to Amorim raising concerns about his dedication in training sessions. Furthermore, Rashford has found himself excluded from recent England national team calls and did not participate in last year’s European Championship, following a season in which he was sidelined by his club on one occasion for disciplinary issues.
While there were rumors of a potential move to clubs in Italy or Saudi Arabia, Rashford has decided to stay in England in an effort to rejuvenate his career. He now aims to demonstrate to Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, that he warrants a place in the starting lineup.
Aston Villa recently transferred Colombian forward Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia for an estimated fee of 64 million pounds ($80 million), creating a need for additional attacking talent to challenge Ollie Watkins for a position.
Rashford’s form peaked during the 2022-23 season when he netted 30 goals, marking a personal best after he first gained attention in 2016 at the age of 18. However, his subsequent seasons did not meet those lofty expectations; he has only scored seven goals across all competitions this season.
Amorim expressed his stance on commitment, stating that he would rather include United’s 63-year-old goalkeeping coach in the lineup over a player who is not fully committed during training. “The reason is the training, what I think a footballer should do in training, in life and every day. If things don’t change, I will not change,” he noted. “It’s the same situation for every player. If you do the maximum and the right things, then we can use every player.”
At one point, Rashford himself admitted to being “ready for a new challenge.” However, a complicating factor for both him and the club is that he is still under a lucrative contract, having signed only a year and a half ago.
Only wealthy clubs could realistically sustain his salary and also meet United’s demands for a transfer fee. Duran’s recent exit to Saudi Arabia has likely facilitated this chain of events.
To date, Rashford has made over 420 appearances for Manchester United, scoring a total of 138 goals. He is also widely recognized for his charitable efforts during the pandemic, which included advocating for the British government to continue funding meal programs for underprivileged children after initial pushback.
