Marcus Rashford transfer truth as Aston Villa clarity emerges amid Manchester United stance

Aston Villa have enquired about signing Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United to replace Jhon Duran.

The Colombian striker has moved to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and Villa need a replacement before Monday’s transfer deadline.

United have been open to letting Rashford leave throughout the window and he has hasn’t played for the club since being dropped by Ruben Amorim in mid-December for the Manchester derby. The 27-year-old has also expressed a desire to leave his boyhood club.

Rashford was keen on a move to Barcelona but their financial situation remains a stumbling block. Villa could present an alternative and they already through the last-16 of the Champions League, but Rashford’s £325,000-a-week wage packet could present another stumbling block.

Amorim slightly softened his stance on Rashford when he did his press conference ahead of the FCSB Europa League game on Wednesday, hinting there was a way back and that United needed his talents in the squad, but only if he changed.

On Sunday, after the win over Fulham, Amorim said he would rather put 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital on the bench than a player not giving their maximum. But before the Europa League tie with FCSB he said that was a point aimed at all of his players and offered the hint of an olive branch to Rashford by praising his talents as a footballer.

"Again guys, the situation is the same for every player. The last time I talked about that in the last game, my sentence was that I will not put any player who doesn’t give the maximum. I didn’t say I will not put Marcus Rashford. It’s the same situation," he said.

"When I feel it’s the right moment I will put any player to play. I will say it again, we are a better team with Marcus