Manchester United Forward Marcus Rashford Likely to Return for Pre-Season Training Despite £40m Option to Join Aston Villa Permanently
In a surprising turn of events, England international Marcus Rashford has hinted that Manchester United would be willing to sell him to any club for £40 million this summer, not just Aston Villa. The 27-year-old forward joined Aston Villa on a loan deal in February, with a £40 million option-to-buy clause, but has yet to play for the club this season due to a hamstring injury.
Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed that Rashford will not feature in the club's final game of the season against Manchester United on 25 May. Rashford's short-term contract with Villa expires on 30 June, and while he has enjoyed his time at the club, there have been no negotiations over a permanent transfer.
Aston Villa are still pursuing a top-five Premier League finish, which would secure a return to the Champions League next season and potentially strengthen their bargaining position. However, Rashford's £325,000-per-week salary is a major obstacle, and sources close to the player indicate he has no intention of taking a pay cut.
There have been reports of tension between Rashford and Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's frustration with high earners not playing regularly. This has led some to draw parallels with Jadon Sancho's situation last year, when he finished the season with Borussia Dortmund after a public fallout with then-manager Erik ten Hag.
As it stands, Rashford is expected to return to Manchester United for pre-season training in July. The Red Devils have a match against newly promoted Leeds in Sweden on 19 July before heading to the United States for three games in the Premier League's summer tournament. They conclude their preparations against David de Gea's Fiorentina at Old Trafford on 9 August.
With few clubs able to afford Rashford's wages, United may have to offer incentives to negotiate a sale. Barcelona was Rashford's preferred destination in January, but no deal materialized. Ideally, he would prefer to play for a club in the Champions League next season, but it is unclear whether Liverpool or Manchester City would be interested, or whether Rashford would be prepared to join United's fiercest rivals.
Another loan deal rather than a straight transfer cannot be ruled out. Joao Felix's move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid for £113 million in 2019 serves as a cautionary tale, as Felix fell out with coach Diego Simeone and spent 18 months on loan at Chelsea and Barcelona before joining Chelsea permanently for £45 million last summer. Despite signing a seven-year contract with Chelsea, Felix started just three Premier League games before joining AC Milan on loan in February.
Source: BBC Sports Football
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