Manchester United star Marcus Rashford is closing in on a loan move to Aston Villa. Rashford has been pushing for an exit from United ever since he was left out of the squad which beat Manchester City. He delivered a bombshell interview in the days following that game, in which he revealed he felt ready for a new challenge. But a move has been harder to find than expected, with AC Milan and Barcelona both pulling out of deals having been heavily linked to him. But Villa have now offered him a lifeline as they look to retool their squad following Jhon Duran's blockbuster move to Al-Nassr.

According to the Manchester Evening News, a deal for Rashford to join Villa on loan for the remainder of the season is progressing. Although of Monday’s 11pm transfer deadline is rapidly approaching, there is optimism the move will get concluded. Villa will be able to offer Rashford the chance to play in the Champions League knockouts, having automatically qualified for the last 16. The 27-year-old has not played in United’s past 12 matches and has been omitted from their matchday squad in all but one of the fixtures in that run.

According to The Athletic, Villa bossUnai Emery personally requested the club enter talks over Rashford. The Spaniard is understood to be a 'big fan' of the United outcast and believes he can help him recapture his best form. Villa currently sit eighth in the Premier League table, ahead of Saturday's trip to Wolves. Before taking his squad to Molineux, Emery hinted Villa would be active players in the final days of the window.

"Hopefully in two or three days we can join two or three players with us," Emery said on Friday afternoon. "I am going to be very motivated to get collectively here our objective. It is not normal, at the moment, what we are doing in this transfer window. But there are different circumstances we have to accept. "There are still a few days until we close the transfer window and the club is working and we have to do something fast. I am very happy how the players are responding. We played some matches where players were close to leaving and we were responding and getting the performance we needed. I am proud of them.

"It is going to be difficult joining more players with us in the next days. But we are being a very good team competing in different competitions with the players we have had. I am happy, for example, how Lamare Bogarde is responding and progressing. When we are missing players it is an opportunity for others, like him. "In case we are keeping the same squad and not adding players I will be confident we can compete in the Premier League and Champions League. But of course we are trying to add better, add more options to play with capacity and skill they can add.".

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