Rashford decision ‘locked in at Aston Villa’ after Fabrizio Romano transfer update
Aston Villa brutally missed out on Champions League qualification after a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United, which will now affect their summer transfer business.
Unai Emery’s side needed just one point in their final game to secure Champions League football, but their controversial 2-0 defeat meant they now have a difficult summer ahead.
Aston Villa will no longer receive the financial windfall that Champions League qualification would have given, and may need to make some sales to resolve their profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) issues.
Villa recruited heavily in January, with Marcus Rashford joining on loan with an option to buy, but his future is now incredibly complicated.
Fabrizio Romano reveals Rashford asking price
Rashford’s loan contract at Villa Park included a £40 million option to buy, but with Villa now stalling over a deal, this has become open for any interested party.
Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that the £40m option will be available for any club to use, and there is no guarantee that he chooses Aston Villa over any other team that makes this offer.
| Stat | Marcus Rashford |
| Appearances | 17 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 5 |
“Marcus Rashford will return to Man United after loan to Aston Villa… and will be available for £40m this summer. Same price as buy option clause into his Villa loan contract available also to other clubs. Rashford will assess all options ahead of the summer transfer window,” he posted on X.
Rashford hinted at an exit from Villa in an Instagram post after his parent club denied his loan club Champions League football, and this could now determine his future.
Aston Villa may not keep Rashford
Rashford had some promising moments at Villa, but ultimately failed to convince that he is capable of producing at the top level, and their collapse in all three competitions means his signing was arguably a failure.
Villa paid a significant loan fee in January to sign Rashford, and had he helped secure them the FA Cup, Champions League football or progress in Europe, this would have been justified.
Now, without Champions League qualification, Villa may struggle to finance a deal for Rashford given his wage demands, even if Ollie Watkins departs.
They may also prefer to sign a younger target for that kind of price, and if Rashford is keen on joining a Champions League club, he may not return to Villa or Man United.
Indeed, it makes sense for Villa to lock in the decision now not to sign Rashford and instead use the money to sign a couple more players for the same fee.