Aston Villa already negotiated a buy-option clause in their loan contract with Marcus Rashford from Man United, who are ready to renegotiate the deal to include a swap-deal for the Arsenal-linked striker.
Manchester United are ready to make a bold move in the summer transfer window by offering Marcus Rashford in a player-plus-cash deal to land Aston Villa’s in-form striker Ollie Watkins.
With their attacking options misfiring for most of the season, United have identified Watkins as the man to solve their frontline issues.
Both Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee have struggled to consistently deliver goals, forcing the Red Devils to explore other avenues despite having reached the Europa League semifinals and still being in the running for silverware.
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According to the Daily Star, manager Ruben Amorim is willing to offload Rashford permanently, using him as a makeweight in negotiations with Villa.
Rashford, who joined the Midlands club on loan in January following a falling out with Amorim, has enjoyed a resurgence under Unai Emery — a spell that may now shape the next big summer transfer.
Arsenal fan Watkins might be tempted
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Watkins, who has scored 15 goals and assisted 12 times in 47 appearances for Aston Villa this season, has been one of the most consistent forwards in the Premier League.
His performances haven't gone unnoticed, with Arsenal showing strong interest in January — reportedly willing to go as high as £60 million to lure the England international to the Emirates.
A boyhood Arsenal fan, Watkins was seen as a potential solution to Mikel Arteta’s attacking needs. However, with Manchester United now entering the race and putting a proven talent like Rashford on the table, the dynamic could shift rapidly.
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Rashford is highly likely to leave Man United
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Once a golden boy at Old Trafford, Rashford’s future under Amorim appears sealed. His loan spell at Villa has revitalized his form and confidence, and Emery has been impressed by the 26-year-old’s impact.
The original plan was to make the move permanent in a £40 million deal — but United’s growing interest in Watkins could lead to a high-stakes trade between two Premier League sides.
With Watkins seeing reduced centrality at Villa following Rashford’s arrival, the 28-year-old may now consider a switch to a club where he can lead the line week in, week out — and a move to Old Trafford could offer just that.
In addition to Watkins, United are also monitoring Lyon’s creative forward Rayan Cherki as part of their attacking rebuild. But Watkins remains the top priority, with Amorim keen to bring in a striker proven in the Premier League.
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