Manchester United and Aston Villa have reached an agreement that will see Marcus Rashford move to Villa Park on loan for the remainder of the season.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Villa have agreed to pay a loan fee while covering the majority of Rashford’s substantial £325,000-per-week wages.

The Midlands club have also secured an option to make the deal permanent when the summer transfer window opens.

At 27 years old, Rashford has been a sought-after player in the January transfer market, particularly after Jhon Durán’s £64 million move to Al Nassr.

Negotiations had already taken place with several clubs, including Tottenham, West Ham, and Barcelona. However, the Catalan giants were reportedly hesitant to push through a loan deal before the window’s closure.

The MEN broke the story on Saturday morning, revealing that Rashford was edging closer to a short-term switch to Villa.

The move will provide Rashford with the opportunity to feature in the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since United’s last-16 clash with Atlético Madrid in 2022.

Currently sitting in a comfortable eighth place in the Premier League, eight points ahead of United, Villa present an attractive prospect for the England international.

Rashford is understood to have welcomed the offer, as it allows him to continue living in his current residence while commuting to Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground.

United, meanwhile, have been waiting for a formal bid for Rashford since he expressed his desire for a “new challenge” over a month ago—a declaration made just two days after he was left out of the squad for United’s dramatic derby victory over Manchester City on 15th December.

Rashford’s struggles at Old Trafford have only worsened in recent weeks. He has missed the last 12 matches and has been included in just one matchday squad during that period.

His most recent appearance for the club was met with jeers from some United supporters during an away fixture against Viktoria Plzeň on 12th December.

Adding to his difficulties, head coach Rúben Amorim made a pointed remark last week, stating that he would rather field his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, than any player who fails to give their “maximum” in training.

However, Amorim later softened his stance, acknowledging that Rashford needed to “change” in order to work his way back into the team.

In a twist of fate, Villa’s urgent search for a new striker has accelerated negotiations, leading to a swift agreement between the two Premier League clubs.

Meanwhile, United have been busy in the transfer market, securing young defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal on Saturday. They are also close to finalising a deal for left-back Patrick Dorgu, who is currently undergoing a medical ahead of his transfer from Lecce.