Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has completed a loan move to Aston Villa until the end of the season, with an option for a permanent transfer valued at £40 million.
The England international has struggled for form under Ruben Amorim and hopes this switch will provide him with a fresh start.
Villa, currently competing for a top-four Premier League finish, will cover a significant portion of Rashford’s £325,000 weekly wages during his loan spell.
Speaking about his decision, Rashford expressed enthusiasm for the club’s ambition.
“Aston Villa is an exciting team with a clear vision, and I believe this is the right place for me to get back to my best.”
Despite interest from European giants Barcelona and AC Milan, no agreement was reached due to Rashford’s high wage demands.
The forward has endured a difficult season at Old Trafford, facing limited playing time and criticism over his performances.
He is eager to prove himself in a new environment, stating “I know I have a lot to offer, and this move gives me the opportunity to play regularly and contribute to a team that’s pushing for big things.”
Villa manager Unai Emery welcomed the signing, emphasising Rashford’s potential impact, saying, “Marcus is a top talent, and we believe he can be a difference-maker for us in the second half of the season.”
With this move, Rashford aims to reignite his career and return to his best form in a competitive squad.
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk has confirmed that talks regarding a new contract have started but admitted he’s uncertain whether he’ll still be at Anfield next season.
The future of several key players remains unclear, with Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah all out of contract at the end of the current campaign.
At 33, Van Dijk acknowledged that negotiations are ongoing but didn’t offer a clear indication about his long-term plans with the club.
"I can say obviously discussions are ongoing, but I don't know, we will see what happens in the future," he stated.
"My very full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me and nothing else. What the future will bring I have no idea at the moment. I can only tell you that discussions have been started up and we will see.
"I feel very good, physically, mentally and I am having fun. Discussions are ongoing with the right people and when it's time to make a decision or whatever, I think you guys [the media] will know it as well.
"But now full commitment and focus is on Liverpool and to be successful this season. So we will see.
"Similar concerns have been raised about Alexander-Arnold, following rumors of interest from Real Madrid. Addressing the speculation, coach Slot assured the media that such distractions won’t affect the players' performance.
"I think you underestimate our players. These players are used to being linked with all the top clubs on a daily basis, if they have contracts or not," he commented during Friday’s press conference.
"If you think they're disturbed by this interest then you don't do justice to how strong they are mentally. This is part of our job. This is part of this world we are living in. You just focus on what you have to do.
"Maybe if you're 17 or 18 years of age it could be difficult for you. But Trent has won the league, has won the Champions League; Virgil and Mo the same. I don't think that is a problem for them to perform and that's what we see at the moment because they're playing really well."
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