Manchester United and Aston Villa have agreed terms in principle for the loan transfer of Marcus Rashford until the end of the season.

Sources say Villa have agreed to pay a loan fee and will cover the majority of Rashford's £325,000 weekly salary. Villa also have an option to buy the forward in the summer.

Rashford, 27, emerged as a late target for Villa after they sold Jhon Duran to Al Nassr for £64million. Rashford's representatives had previously held discussions with Tottenham, West Ham and Barcelona. Barca were hesitant about forcing through a loan move in the current transfer window.

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The MEN revealed on Saturday morning that Rashford was closing in on a temporary move to the 1996 League Cup winners.

Villa will offer Rashford Champions League knockout football for the first time since he played for United against Atletico Madrid in 2022. Villa are currently eighth in the Premier League table and eight points clear of 12th-placed United.

Rashford was also happy to accept Villa's offer as he will not have to relocate and can commute to the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground.

United have been waiting for a concrete offer for Rashford ever since he outlined his desire for a "new challenge" nearly seven weeks ago. The England international aired his desire to leave the club two days after he was dropped from the squad for the Manchester derby win at City on December 15.

Rashford has not played in United's past 12 matches and he was omitted from all but one matchday squad during that sequence. Several United fans booed Rashford on his last appearance for the club away to Viktoria Plzen on December 12. Head coach Ruben Amorim did not acknowledge Rashford after he was substituted in the second half.

Amorim said last week he would rather play his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, than Rashford or any other player that does not give his "maximum" in training. Amorim softened his stance in midweek but stressed Rashford had to "change" if he was to be reintegrated into the United squad.

Villa's sudden need for a new forward has enabled the Premier League clubs to quickly conclude a deal. United signed rookie defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal on Saturday and left back Patrick Dorgu is undergoing a medical ahead of his move from Lecce.