Aston Villa open talks with top Barcelona target over January loan – Romano

Barcelona have faced a significant setback in their pursuit of Marcus Rashford, with Aston Villa emerging as serious competitors. 

According to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Unai Emery, the manager of Aston Villa, has given the green light to the club’s board to move forward with a loan deal for the Manchester United forward. 

The deal, although expensive and challenging, is gaining traction, and Villa have already made contact with Rashford’s camp, indicating strong interest. 

In fact, negotiations are reportedly underway, putting Barcelona in a difficult position as they look to strengthen their attacking options.

Barcelona slipping away

Barcelona had viewed Rashford as a perfect fit for their attacking lineup. Despite some doubts about the feasibility of completing this transfer in the current window, the club had kept the Englishman on their radar. 

Barcelona may miss out on Marcus Rashford. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

With the transfer window rapidly closing, Barcelona have not yet completely abandoned the idea of securing Rashford’s services. However, they are now exploring two possible ways to get the deal over the line.

One option being considered is a loan deal lasting until the end of the season. Barcelona has the financial means to cover the cost of the deal, but the real obstacle lies in managing Rashford’s high wages, which amount to £325,000 per week. 

This has complicated matters, as Barcelona must navigate the constraints of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, which have already made it difficult for them to make major moves in the market.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have been quick to act. With the recent sale of star forward Jhon Duran to Al Nassr, Villa have freed up space in their squad and are making a strong push to bring in Rashford. 

This unexpected movement from Villa has caught Barcelona off guard, making the race for the Manchester United forward even more competitive.