Every time Manchester United announces their line-up, the buzz around Marcus Rashford gets fanned. It has been more than one-and-a-half months since the United academy graduate appeared on the pitch in a red shirt. Still, the OBE continues to make headlines.
His stand-off with head coach Ruben Amorim has contributed to thousands of articles while stirring up the transfer gossip. However, a loan-move to PL neighbours Aston Villa looks imminent now.
There was strong interest across Europe during the month of January, with AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, and Barcelona emerging as his potential suitors. But his salary which weighs over £325,000 per week, was thought to be a significant obstacle to any possible move.
Aston Villa, who just cashed on Jhon Duran and signed Malen from Dortmund earlier this month, was scanning the market for an experienced attacker throughout the winter transfer window. Especially after the Colombian international’s exit, they jumped in to sign a forward and the names of Joao Felix and Marco Asensio doing the rounds.
Rashford, who has scored 138 goals in 426 club appearances and has a contract till the summer of 2028, is now likely to join Unai Emery’s Villa on a loan-deal which will run until the end of the season. It has come to light that the Spaniard himself wanted him and might have dialled his number. With Duran moving to Saudi, there’s space to exploit in the Villa attacking third.
Having missed eight consecutive games in a row, Marcus Rashford was nowhere near any FPL equations. We suggested offloading him before gameweek 21. But things will become very interesting once he joins Villa.
Aston Villa has been in fine form this season. They might have experienced some roadblocks in the league but have beaten the likes of City and even Bayern Munich in UCL. Emery’s men have also secured a top-eight finish after the group stages of Europe’s elite competition.
There is so much quality in the Villa frontline that Villa Park can become a fort for Emery’s men. With Ollie Watkins regaining his touch and Morgan Rogers in his breakout season, Villa looks like a goal-producing machine. The competition is top-notch but Rashford has enough quality to break into the first-team.
The fact that Emery himself wants the Red Devil, highlights his scope in the Villa ranks. Marcus is a seasoned campaigner in the PL. Yes, he has struggled for form in recent times and the 30-goal-haul achieved in the 2022/23 season under ETH, appears to be a flash in the pan. However, the long-time fan favourite among the Manchester United faithful who has recently gone out of favour with the Portuguese tactician, has the right skill set to be a much-desired FPL asset once again.
Amorim has said time and again that they are a better side with him and it’s his approach in the training sessions, which is keeping him out of the squad since the Manchester derby in mid-December. Rashford actually embarked on a flying-start with the new coach at helm. He smashed 22pts in the first two PL matches with Amorim in charge, scoring three goals against Ipswich and Everton.
Rashy is registered as a midfielder in the Fantasy Premier League 2024-25 and comes with a moderate price-tag of £6.6m. Four goals and an assist from fifteen appearances (with twelve out of them being starts) may not be enough to raise the eyebrows. But his underlying numbers even in such a topsy-turvy season, call for admiration — 4 goals from a total xG(Expected Goal) of just 1.6!
After missing twelve straight games already in all competitions, Marcus Rashford will be hungry to prove a point or two. And despite coming with the label of a midfielder in fantasy football, the 27-year-old will be playing in a much advanced position in the Villa upfront. He will also enjoy enough support along with stiff competition from the likes of Watkins and Rogers.
With Villa agonisingly-close to agreeing a loan deal for the remainder of the season alongside an option to buy in the summer, it’s high time you start tracking the former England international once again. Don’t be surprised if he emerges as one of the best differentials in FPL, with plum fixtures like Wolves and Ipswich awaiting for Emery’s men in the next two gameweeks.