Aston Villa's pursuit of Marcus Rashford appears to be gaining momentum as the January transfer window unfolds, despite manager Unai Emery's cautious approach following the team's recent 2-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 27-year-old forward, currently with Manchester United, has become a focal point of speculation, although no formal offers have yet materialised, indicating that he may remain at Old Trafford for the remainder of the season.
However, Aston Villa are reportedly making significant efforts to secure Rashford on loan, with indications that the club is prepared to cover a substantial portion of his £325,000-a-week salary. The recent transfer of Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr for £77 million (€64.5 million) has further bolstered Villa's financial position, potentially paving the way for a permanent acquisition of Rashford in the summer.
When questioned about the possibility of signing Rashford, Emery remained non-committal, stating: "Tomorrow and Monday we will see because we are working for different players. I don't know exactly how we will finish." He elaborated on the club's strategy, emphasising the need to replace key players: "The club is working to join some players tomorrow and Monday. We have to replace Diego Carlos, we have to replace Emi Buendia and we have to replace Jhon Duran. It is not easy because we don't want to replace them with players who will not help us like I want. We are being demanding and intelligent."
Rashford's recent absence from Manchester United's last 12 matches has raised eyebrows, particularly in light of criticism regarding his training habits from Ruben Amorim, a member of United's coaching staff. Following a match against Fulham, Amorim commented, "It's the same, it's always the same reason. The reason is the training, the way I see what footballers should do in training, in life, it's every day, every detail. So if things don't change, I will not change. It's the same situation for every player. If you do the maximum, if you do the right things, we can use every player."
He further underscored the importance of commitment, stating, "You can see it today on the bench, we miss a little bit of pace to go and change the game, move some pieces. But I prefer it like that. I will put Vital [Man United goalkeeper coaching Jorge Vital] on before I put a player on that don't give the maximum every day. So I will not change in that department."
As the transfer window progresses, developments regarding Rashford's potential move to Aston Villa will be closely monitored, with fans hopeful that the club can secure a player of his calibre to enhance their attacking options.