Aston Villa transfer state of play: Man United consider shock move as £40m claim made and medicals booked
Aston Villa could confirm the loan signings of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio later today as Monchi works to finalise the club’s transfer business before Monday night’s 11pm deadline.
Rashford is to join on loan with an option to buy inserted in that deal, which the Daily Mail claim to be £40m. The 27-year-old is due to have his medical today ahead of signing his contract.
Villa are thought to be paying the majority of his £325,000-a-week wages, while they are reportedly paying Asensio’s wage packet in full. The Spain international is joining on a straight loan without a buy option inserted in the deal.
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He is a player who Emery has previously tried to sign for Villa, but back in the summer of 2023, Asensio picked a move to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with Real Madrid.
Both players could make their Villa debuts next Sunday for the club’s FA Cup fourth round tie against Tottenham at Villa Park. If Rashford had not been exiled by Ruben Amorim there would have been the fear of him being cup-tied for the remainder of the campaign.
But, as he did not play against Arsenal in the third round, that won't be the case. He and Asensio could then make his Premier League debuts for the club the weekend after on Saturday, February 15, against Ipswich Town, that being another home match.
Villa are also working to recruit a new defender, with a loan move for Axel Disasi not yet off the cards. The France international wants the move to Villa and to link up with Emery, but Chelsea have not yet sanctioned his departure. Tottenham are also interested in Disasi despite agreeing to sign Kevin Danso from RC Lens.
As for outgoings, Kosta Nedeljkovic is expected to leave on loan, while Sil Swinkels is due to be confirmed as a Bristol Rovers player shortly after Villa agreed to send him out on loan to the League One club.
One player to keep an eye on is Leon Bailey, with The Athletic claiming that he is an option for Manchester United. They report that the United are yet to advance talks with Villa over possibly signing the Jamaica international, but he has been discussed should they be made available for a loan move ahead of the transfer window closing.
