Pundit names 'better fit' for Aston Villa than Marcus Rashford, tips Man Utd loanee to join European giants

Marcus Rashford faces an uncertain future with his Aston Villa loan deal set to expire at the end of the season.

The 2024/25 Premier League campaign comes to an end this weekend when Manchester United host Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

It has been a dire season for United, with the Red Devils destined to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table and having lost the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have enjoyed a bright season and they’ve secured European football for a third season in a row, albeit with some help from United loanee Marcus Rashford.

Unai Emery’s side visit Old Trafford on Sunday for the final game of the season, and they are still in the picture for a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Villa will be without Rashford due to ineligibility and injury, but they have an option to sign him for £40m this summer.

It remains to be seen whether Villa will take up that option, but Lee Hendrie has questioned whether it would be the right move for his former club to sign Rashford on a permanent deal.

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Lee Hendrie advises Aston Villa to sign Marco Asensio over Marcus Rashford

Although Rashford missed the end of the season for Villa due to injury, the United academy graduate made a positive impact at Villa Park, and Emery often selected him ahead of Ollie Watkins.

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But former Villa star Lee Hendrie doesn’t think Rashford is the right fit for Emery’s side and has raised concerns over an expensive gamble.

Games Goals Assists 17 4 6 Marcus Rashford record for Aston Villa

Hendrie suggests that Marco Asensio would be a better fit if Villa are able to make his deal permanent.

“I am not so sure whether Marcus is the right fit to be quite honest,” Hendrie told Capital Football.

“I think Asensio featured more in games and he would be a better fit and maybe better cost-wise.

“I think that might work better because you can take a punt on Marcus Rashford and it might not pay off and pay a lot of wages to make him come to the football club.

“I personally think he will end up going to Barcelona…”

Interestingly, Hendrie mentions Barcelona as a potential destination for Rashford, who is unlikely to have a future at Old Trafford after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim.

It is understood that Rashford’s dream move would see him join Barcelona this summer.

Whether Barcelona are interested in Rashford remains to be seen.

Marcus Rashford misses out on England squad

It is believed that Rashford was working hard to recover in time for the next round of England internationals, but Thomas Tuchel did not select him in his latest squad.

Rashford was one of five United players overlooked by Tuchel. The others include Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount.

In March, Rashford’s form at Villa led to a surprise call-up to the England squad by Tuchel, after being continuously overlooked by previous manager Gareth Southgate during a difficult period on the pitch.

Rashford will hope to earn a recall to the England squad next season.

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