Aston Villa are on the verge of securing a loan deal for Marco Asensio from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) that will last until the end of the current season. The 29-year-old Spanish international, who joined PSG from Real Madrid in July 2023, is contracted with the French champions until June 2026.
Since his arrival in Paris, Asensio has featured in 47 matches, contributing seven goals to the team's efforts. His time at Real Madrid was marked by a notable scoring record, with 61 goals in 286 appearances. However, Asensio's playing time has recently dwindled, as he has remained an unused substitute in three of his last four outings. This decline in minutes has prompted PSG to consider offloading him during the current transfer window, with reports indicating that the club has actively sought out interested parties.
The urgency for reinforcements at Villa Park has been amplified by Jhon Duran's recent transfer to Al Nassr for a substantial fee of £65 million. Following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Villa's manager, Unai Emery, underscored the necessity of bringing in new talent before the transfer window closes on Monday. "We need some players," Emery stated in a post-match interview with the BBC. "We need to replace some players who left. Tomorrow and Monday are the last two days. I think we'll get some players to help us because we're in the Champions League last 16. We have to try to get points in the Premier League to be top eight, seven, six, five."
In addition to the potential acquisition of Asensio, Aston Villa are reportedly close to finalising a loan agreement for Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. The 27-year-old forward has reportedly said his goodbyes to teammates at Carrington as he prepares for a move to Villa Park. Personal terms have been agreed, with only the final details between the clubs left to resolve.
Rashford's situation at Manchester United has seen him fall out of favour, making a departure increasingly likely as the window draws to a close. His reported weekly wage of £350,000 significantly exceeds that of Villa's highest earner, Emi Martinez. Aston Villa are expected to cover 70% of Rashford's salary, which will include performance-related clauses, and there may be an option for a permanent transfer at the end of the season.
Furthermore, Aston Villa are keeping a close eye on Chelsea's Joao Felix, although they face stiff competition from AC Milan for the Portuguese forward's signature. There are also indications that Leon Bailey could be on the move, with Manchester United reportedly interested in a separate deal beyond Rashford's transfer.
According to MailOnline, Aston Villa are actively seeking to strengthen their squad during this transfer window to enhance their competitiveness in both domestic and European competitions. The club is keen to bolster its attacking options and maintain a strong position in the Premier League and Champions League as the season progresses. With the potential arrivals of Asensio and Rashford, Villa fans have reason to be optimistic about the club's ambitions this season.