Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is closing in on a loan move to Aston Villa.

Sources say a deal for Rashford to join Villa on loan for the remainder of the season is progressing ahead of Monday’s 11pm transfer deadline but there is optimism the move will get concluded.

Villa moved for Rashford after striker Jhon Duran was sold to Al Nassr for £64million on Friday. The MEN reported yesterday that Barcelona were hesitant about forcing through a loan move for Rashford, 27, in the winter transfer window but are open to signing him permanently in the summer.

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Rashford’s representatives also held discussions with Tottenham and West Ham United earlier in the window amid his desire for a “new challenge”.

Villa have automatically qualified for the round of 16 of the Champions League and can offer Rashford knockout football in the competition for the first time since 2022.

Rashford has not played in United’s past 12 matches and has been omitted from their matchday squad in all but one of the fixtures in that sequence.

United head coach Ruben Amorim last week suggested that he would rather play his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, than Rashford or any other player who is not giving his “maximum” in training.

Amorim softened his stance in midweek but stressed Rashford must “change” if he is to have a future at United.