Not Rashford or Garnacho: Villa emerge as surprise suitors in pursuit of outcast United man, he’s a ‘player Emery likes’

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·16 Juni 2025

Not Rashford or Garnacho: Villa emerge as surprise suitors in pursuit of outcast United man, he’s a ‘player Emery likes’

After already establishing their interest in both Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, Aston Villa have set their sights on a third wantaway Red.

While the Midlands outfit were said to be pleased with how Rashford had fared throughout his half-season loan spell, his £40 million buy option was not activated upon the culmination of his temporary contract, meaning he is on course to return to Manchester United when pre-season gets underway — assuming he hasn’t completed a move away, that is.

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Villa have since been linked with Rashford’s younger attacking counterpart at Old Trafford in the form of Garnacho. He, like the No.10, is expected to be sold this summer following a clash of heads with Ruben Amorim after the Europa League final.

However, United’s costly demands of £70m for their 20-year-old academy graduate are set to price Villa out of a deal, especially whilst they frantically look to sanction outgoings to aid their PSR situation.

Aston Villa mull over Jadon Sancho coup

Sancho failed to overly impress in a Chelsea shirt. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

There remains one forward option they can pursue at a cut-price, though.

According to Graeme Bailey, Villa will offer outcast Jadon Sancho the chance to continue plying his trade in England after Chelsea opted against activating their £25m obligation-to-buy, instead choosing to pay a £5m penalty fee to send the winger back to Manchester.

Sancho will not be granted another opportunity to revive his lifeless Red Devils career, which has left the board actively seeking suitors to try and take him off their hands for good.

Borussia Dortmund have once again emerged as a suitor, although whether they’d be able to fork out the amount required to facilitate a deal remains to be seen.

Villa’s interest in Sancho: The state of play

“There is genuine interest in England. I’m told that one of the clubs that are open to a potential move for Sancho are Villa,” Bailey told United In Focus.

“We saw the success they had with loans last season with Rashford and Asensio. And now Sancho is on their radar; he is a player that Emery likes.”

One factor that’s undoubtedly coming back to bite United in the behind is that the 25-year-old earns a reported £300,000 per week. He made it clear he was unwilling to lower his wages when holding talks with Chelsea about a long-term deal, and there’s little to no chance Villa would be able to match such an amount.