It may be a crass way to look at it, but the transfer window operates just like a market. Aston Villa plays its part in the buying and selling based on value just as anyone else. For Marcus Rashford, he saw his stock go up since joining Unai Emery. It does not appear, however, to be enough for clubs to make a move on him as things stand.
On Wednesday, Fabrizio Romano shared on X that Rashford is currently for all clubs at £40m. The journalist also reported that Barcelona are keen on adding him to the squad. While Romano would also indicate that there are other options that the La Liga side are pursuing, the nature of his still being available indicates that the current asking price is still set too high.
Villa would undoubtedly welcome Rashford back. Even if it were not for the anticipated loss of future Champions League income, the current rate to sign the England international would likely still be too steep for it to be considered.
This brings up a potential option that may suit everyone who would be involved in a potential agreement.
To an extent it would be dragging out this business, but it may be the whole suitable choice for clubs to pursue, and that would be another loan spell for Rashford.
Manchester United view him at a certain market value, and other clubs see his potential, particularly after playing under Emery, but are hesitant to fork over the current amount for a player with a limited sample size at a place other than United.
Certainly, Rashford's parent club would rather move on from this, and Rashford, too, would likely know what his immediate future holds.
That just does not appear feasible at the moment.
Fit over Champions League at Aston Villa
With an additional loan spell, AVFC would be right back in the mix toward adding Rashford for the 2025-2026 campaign. That would also add more security in being able to further evaluate him in Emery's system and ensure that his latest uptick was more than just a one-off.
While his departure and return to Manchester initially looked like the end for Rashford at Villa, if the price keeps going down and suitors are not willing to finalize an agreement, that allows Monchi to have that much more of a position to work something out to see Rashford in the claret and blue.