Aston Villa look to be closing in on a move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford in the final days of the transfer window as Unai Emery strengthens his squad for the second half of the campaign.

Rashford has been one of the names spoken about a lot over the last few weeks after falling out of favour at Old Trafford under new head coach Ruben Amorim. A move to Villa Park now looks to be possible with a move that will see the forward move on a loan deal progressing .

Villa made a move for the 27-year-old following the £65 million sale of Jhon duran to Saudi side Al Nassr. Villa are expected to cover a large part of Rashford’s wage as well as offering performance-based bonuses as part of the deal.

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Villa will feel that the signing of Rashford will help them both in getting as far as they can in the Champions League this season, as well as their hopes of qualifying for the competition again at the end of the season.

But would Rashford be a good signing for Villa and what would he bring to the team? Our writers have had their say:

Amie Wilson

Villa have come out of nowhere to now lead the race for Rashford before Monday’s deadline. It’s a signing that should excite fans, and outlines the ambition of the club in maintaining their place in the Champions League, it could also be seen as a risk.

If Villa can help the player rediscover the performances that Rashford showed when he first burst onto the scene at United, then they will have a player on their hands who can make a big difference. However, Rashford has not shown that for a couple of seasons.

For the player, a move to Villa will be a good one, if he can play regularly and show what he can do in the Premier League.

The finances involved in Villa covering a big part of his wages do make it somewhat of a risky signing. It reminds me a bit of the arrival of Philippe Coutinho a few years ago.

If it works out it will be a good move for all parties involved. But there is a big 'if'.

Kieran Horn

If Emery can get Rashford back playing at previous levels, Villa will have a frightening attack with their in transition particularly impressive.

Adding the 27-year-old to elite ball-carriers in Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey would see Villa reinforce their top-four charge and Champions League ambitions. There is of course, the possibility that the move does not work out but as it is only a six-month loan switch, there are no real risks for Villa.

It also looks as though there will be the chance to make the move permanent in the summer and because of that, Villa can either take him on for a set fee regardless of his displays or simply send him back to Old Trafford.

In all honestly, the deal is an absolute no-brainer.

Bruna Reis

I don’t think many saw this one coming but it just shows how much Aston Villa are looking to continue to build on their return to the Champions League this season. And Rashford is exactly the sort of player who could play a significant role in Villa's push to finish in the European places again this season.

While this is no doubt an exciting signing, there are also some risks involved. Sources say that Villa have agreed to pay a loan fee and will cover the majority of the striker’s £325,000 weekly salary - which was what put the likes of AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund off pursuing a move.

Man United boss Ruben Amorim has also not held back with his comments over Rashford’s effort in training, claiming he does not give his ‘maximum.’ There is no doubt, then, that Unai Emery will have a significant role to play to get the 27-year-old back to the levels he displayed during the 2022/23 season.

However, if the move does work out, then Villa will no doubt have a great player in their hands and will able to complete a permanent transfer at the end of the season.

Jake Stokes

It's a risk, but it's definitely a risk worth taking. If Unai Emery can rebuild Marcus Rashford's confidence and get him firing on all cylinders, Aston Villa could seriously have a world-class player on their hands.

If it doesn't work out then so be it. It doesn't matter. Emery already has a few exciting forwards at his disposal that he can rely on, so the England international will hardly be under much pressure to perform from the get-go.

Of course, all eyes will be on Rashford, so maybe a move abroad would've been better in that sense. But, the United ace has the chance to rebuild his reputation in both the Premier League and the Champions League!

Meanwhile, Villa have the chance to unlock a top player, who they could one day sign permanently. There are a lot of ifs, buts and maybes, but there's a great deal for all three parties here.

Would Rashford be a good signing for Aston Villa? Tell us in the comments section