Aston Villa have beaten off late interest from another Premier League club to the signature of Marcus Rashford, who is close to agreeing a shock loan move from Manchester United.
After revealing he wanted to seek a new challenge away from Old Trafford in December, a host of European clubs have been interested in signing the wantaway forward on loan – but Rashford’s wages of over £300,000-a-week have deterred most of his suitors.
Villa will pay a loan fee and a “sizable” portion – roughly around three quarters – of Rashford’s wages, The i Paper has been told, after terms were agreed on Saturday. Performance-related bonuses could see Villa pay even more.
The player is understood to be keen on the move, which is set to include an option to make the switch a permanent one at the end of the season.
The i Paper understands another Premier League club tried to make a late swoop for Rashford, but the prospect of Champions League football is understood to be behind the 27-year-old’s decision to move to the Midlands.
Rashford’s preference was thought to be Barcelona, with the La Liga side keen, but they have been unable to make room in their squad for the England forward.
That forced Rashford’s agent and brother, Dwaine Maynard, to look elsewhere.
It is unclear at this stage which other Premier League club made their move, with West Ham and Tottenham previously linked.
Unai Emery is thought to be behind Villa’s late pursuit of Rashford. The Spaniard likes the fact Rashford can play anywhere across the front line and needed to strengthen his squad after Jhon Duran departed for Saudi Arabia this week.
Rashford has not featured for United since he was dropped from the squad for the Manchester derby victory at the Etihad in early December.
Ruben Amorim has constantly challenged Rashford to get work his way into his plans, insisting his efforts away from the pitch have not been of sufficient standard.
Alejandro Garnacho, who was also left out of the derby side for lack of application in training, has since regained his place back in the team and looks set to stay at Old Trafford this January.
Napoli and Chelsea had both expressed an interest in signing him.
United will want to strengthen their options once Rashford departs and are eyeing a loan move for a striker before the window closes on Monday.
Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel is understood to be interested in joining on loan, feeling that there is opportunity for first-team action on offer.
The young forward snubbed a permanent switch to Tottenham on Friday, as he wants to assess his options in the summer. A loan deal away from Bavaria in the meantime, however, suits all parties.
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