Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford is close to a loan move to Aston Villa with an option to buy at the end of the season.

The surprise deal comes after Villa sanctioned the departure of Jhon Durán to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Rashford’s £325,000-a-week wages are a significant obstacle but discussions are ongoing over Villa paying a portion of his salary, with optimism an agreement can be reached. It is understood a deal would include an option rather than an obligation at this stage to make the move permanent. Sources have told Telegraph Sport that Rashford is keen on remaining in Manchester, so would commute to Villa training.

Rashford’s Old Trafford exit brings an end to a tumultuous spell at his boyhood club, in which he signalled his desire for a “new challenge” towards the end of last year.

The 27-year-old last played for United against Viktoria Plzen on December 12 in the Europa League. He was dropped from the squad for the derby win over Manchester City on December 15 and has not been part of the match-day squad for 10 of the past 11 games. He was an unused substitute in a chastening 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on December 30.

Ruben Amorim suggested he would rather pick his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach than a player who does not fit into “the way I see [what] a footballer should do in life” in what was interpreted as a clear reference to Rashford. Multiple clubs have expressed an interest in the forward, including Monaco, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona, and Villa’s interest has developed late in the window.

The Midlands club were angry to receive a bid from Arsenal for Ollie Watkins ahead of the club’s Champions League clash against Celtic. Duran’s departure to Saudi Arabia was then confirmed, with Unai Emery in need of attacking firepower in the second half of the season as Villa are in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Rashford is seen as a market opportunity late in the window, which closes on Monday.

Meanwhile, United confirmed the signing of teenage centre-back Ayden Heaven from Arsenal on Saturday.

Heaven, 18, has signed a contract until June 2029, with the option of an additional year, and he is seen as a player who is ready to be part of United’s first-team squad.

Jason Wilcox, Manchester United’s technical director, said: “We are delighted that Ayden has joined Manchester United. He is already an extremely talented defender who is ready to join our first-team squad in order to maximise his development.

“This club has a phenomenal track record of supporting young players and we believe that Ayden is in the perfect place to reach his excellent potential.”