Marcus Rashford is considering a move, despite his loan from Aston Villa

  

England forward Marcus Rashford is currently on loan at Aston Villa, having left Manchester United in January amid growing uncertainty about his role at Old Trafford. The 27-year-old moved to Villa on a deal running until the end of the season, reportedly including a £40 million option to make the transfer permanent. His performances under manager Unai Emery – four assists in 17 Premier League appearances by mid-March – earned him a recall to the England squad for the new manager Thomas Tuchel’s first international fixtures. Villa boss Emery has praised Rashford’s impact, saying he “played a fantastic match” in a recent Champions League quarter-final and confirming that discussions over the forward’s future will continue in the coming weeks.

Fallout at Manchester United

Rashford’s exit from United followed a fractious period under new head coach Ruben Amorim. In December, Amorim publicly questioned Rashford’s professionalism, omitting the forward from the squad for the Manchester derby against City. Amorim told reporters that, in his view, “the work ethic has been poor from Garnacho and Rashford,” explaining that selection decisions were based on training performance and commitment. The club hierarchy reportedly backed Amorim’s stance, leading to Rashford being frozen out of the side. United’s form has suffered in the forward’s absence: the team was 14th in the table on 38 points late in the season and on track to finish at their lowest-ever Premier League position. Amorim defended his decision, however, insisting in April that short-term losses were justified by longer-term goals: “There are things here that are more important than to score 10 more goals this season,” he said, arguing that the temporary setback “will help the club” in the future.

Loan Move to Aston Villa and England Recall

After leaving United in January, Rashford quickly became involved at Villa. The loan agreement stipulates a £40m purchase option, although Villa must navigate Premier League profit-and-sustainability rules before activating any permanent transfer. Rashford’s attacking play has been productive if not prolific. He had not scored in the league by spring 2025 but provided four assists for Villa, and he was influential in their run to the Champions League quarter-finals (Villa’s first European campaign in decades). Emery noted Rashford’s positive influence, stating “he is feeling better and he played a fantastic match,” and adding “if he is happy, we are happy” as the club evaluates its options. Rashford’s resurgence at Villa also drew the attention of England’s national team, with new coach Thomas Tuchel naming him in the squad for World Cup qualifiers in March after nearly a year out of the side.
In form with Aston Villa, Rashford celebrates after scoring in a cup match. The England international has become a key creative outlet under Unai Emery, contributing assists and energy despite not yet finding the net in the Premier League. At 27, he seeks to rebuild momentum during this loan spell while Villa weigh their options in the transfer market.

Barcelona Links and Future Outlook

Meanwhile, speculation has swirled that Rashford remains interested in a move to Barcelona. The Catalan giants reportedly pursued the forward during the winter window – even discussing a potential loan – but were discouraged when Manchester United’s valuation proved too steep. Barcelona sporting director Deco confirmed on Catalan radio that Rashford “is among the names” the club has monitored, saying simply “we like…Rashford” along with other wingers. However, Deco stressed that Barcelona’s immediate priority is securing the club’s core: he outlined plans to renew contracts for homegrown talents like Pedri, Gavi, Ronald Araújo, as well as recent signings Raphinha and Koundé.
Financial constraints remain a significant obstacle to any high-profile signing. La Liga’s strict salary cap means Barcelona must first trim their wage bill before reinvesting. The champions have not been able to bolster their attack significantly due to these regulations. Barcelona must balance their title-winning squad with new targets, so while Deco confirmed Rashford is on their radar, he cautioned that “talking about players under contract with other clubs is complicated” under current circumstances. In short, although Rashford dreams of starring for the Spanish giants, Barcelona’s focus on stability and compliance suggests any move would have to await the summer and depend on multiple financial variables.