Marcus Rashford responds to Aston Villa offer with Man Utd star close to move

Rashford keen on a move to Villa Park (Picture: AMA/Getty Images)

Marcus Rashford is keen on a move to Aston Villa and is closing in on a deal to leave Manchester United on loan.

Villa emerged as a shock destination for the England international on Friday night with Unai Emery personally requesting the club enter talks to sign the 27-year-old.

Rashford has been left out of the United squad for the last 12 matches by Ruben Amorim having revealed his desire to seek a new challenge in December.

Barcelona is thought to be his preferred destination but a move to the Camp Nou is looking increasingly complicated as the final days of the January transfer window tick by.

But the Manchester Evening News now report Rashford is prepared to make the move to Villa Park with optimism a deal can be completed with just days left before the transfer window closes.

Villa are eager for attacking reinforcements after Jhon Duran completed his move to Al-Nassr for £64million.

They have also been among the clubs eager to sign Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel but latest reports suggest the France Under-21 international favours a move to Arsenal or United having already rejected Tottenham.

Amorim has questioned Rashford’s efforts in training (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal are also eager to sign Ollie Watkins but so far Villa have resisted cashing in with Emery insisting on Friday the striker is happy to remain at the club.

Rashford, 27, has scored seven goals in 24 appearances this season but is firmly out of favour under Ruben Amorim who has demanded more from the forward in training.

While he has not closed the door on Rashford returning to the side, the United boss has insisted Rashford ‘must change’ before that can happen.

Amorim has also suggested he would rather play his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital than Rashford – or any other player who fails to give their ‘maximum’ in training.

Emery has personally requested Villa move for Rashford (Picture: Getty)

‘Imagine a talent like Rashford, our team should be so much better with him – but he has to change,’ Amorim said on Wednesday.

‘If he changes, we are more than welcome [to include him] – and we need it. But in this moment we have to set some standards. We are waiting for Rashford, if he wants it really bad.

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‘You [the media] want to make it personal, I have nothing against Marcus, but I have to make the same rules for everybody.

‘We need goals, we need [players who can go] one against one, we need threat in the final third.’

Offloading Rashford could enable United to move forward with a move for Bayern starlet Tel.

Villa meanwhile can offer Rashford Champions League football this season having booked their place in the last 16 of the competition this week.

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