Aston Villa remains interested in Marcus Rashford. Reports from Mundo Deportivo and Sport, as noted by Sport Witness, indicate that Villa is still keen on the Manchester United forward, despite his decision last summer to opt for a move to Barcelona for a permanent deal at Villa Park.
Aston Villa eye fresh bid for Barcelona’s £25m forward
Rashford had previously spent the latter half of last season on loan at Villa but declined an extension, subsequently joining Hansi Flick’s squad on loan from Old Trafford in July 2025. Although Barcelona has a €30m purchase option, Mundo Deportivo reports that the club is hesitant to activate it and is considering an alternative loan agreement.
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Manchester United is steadfast in their asking price and will not approve a third consecutive loan. Sources suggest that Rashford is focused on remaining at Camp Nou, dismissing interest from Real Madrid or a return to Manchester.
Sport reports that Barcelona has already reached personal terms with the 28-year-old, but a deal with United is still pending, preventing the transfer from being finalized. Meanwhile, United remains optimistic that other teams, including Aston Villa, will meet their €30m valuation.
This season in La Liga, Rashford has notched eight goals and seven assists over 1,671 minutes, averaging 7.21 on FotMob per game, along with three yellow cards. His goals-per-90 statistic stands at roughly 0.43, with an assist rate of 0.38 per 90—a solid if not outstanding contribution for a team still honing its strategy.
What strategy should Aston Villa pursue this summer?
BARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 10: Marcus Rashford of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga EA Sports match against Real Madrid CF at Spotify Camp Nou on May 10, 2026. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
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Investing €30m in Rashford may appear reasonable for Aston Villa on the surface, but it should only be done under the right circumstances. At 28, he isn’t at his peak value, and he has faced well-known inconsistencies. However, Emery has previously excelled at revitalizing underperforming forwards; he has done so at Villa Park before and nearly secured a permanent deal.
If Barcelona decides to walk away and United maintains their stance, Villa might consider negotiating a deal with performance-related add-ons rather than a flat €30m fee. This approach is both pragmatic and calculated. Given Rashford’s familiarity with the club, city, and system, that relationship could be advantageous. For Aston Villa, the risk is manageable if the contract reflects performance rather than reputation alone.