Unai Emery remained reserved about Aston Villa’s pursuit of Marcus Rashford following their 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Saturday night.
Despite interest from multiple clubs, the 27-year-old forward looked set to remain at Manchester United due to the absence of solid offers.
However, Villa have now moved swiftly, agreeing to cover a significant portion of Rashford’s £325,000-per-week wages to secure him on loan.
The club, fresh off Jhon Duran’s €77 million (£64.5m) transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, is also expected to include an option to make Rashford’s move permanent in the summer.
When asked about the situation, Emery provided little clarity. “Tomorrow and Monday, we will see. We are working on different players, and I don’t know exactly how things will end,” he said.
He also emphasized Villa’s need for smart recruitment, adding, “We must replace Diego Carlos, Emi Buendia, and Jhon Duran, but we won’t sign just anyone. We need players who truly fit our plans.”
Rashford’s absence from United’s squad in recent weeks has drawn attention, especially after manager Ruben Amorim openly criticized his training attitude. Rashford has missed the last 12 games, with Amorim making it clear that only maximum effort earns a spot in his squad.
“It’s always the same reason—training,” Amorim said after United’s win over Fulham. “Every day, every detail matters. If things don’t change, I won’t change.
I need players who give their all. Today, we lacked pace to change the game, but I’d rather play a coach than a player who doesn’t give 100%.”
As Villa finalize the deal, Rashford now faces a chance to reignite his form under Emery. Whether he seizes it remains to be seen.