Toby Wilding

Sat 17 May 2025 9:00, UK

Marcus Rashford has been told to stay at Aston Villa once his loan spell with the club from Man United has expired.

The attacker made the move to Villa Park on a temporary basis late in the winter transfer window, in a move that includes an option to buy for £40million, which is now said to apply to other clubs too [BBC Sport].

Having made that move, the England international has enjoyed something of an upturn in form after linking up with Unai Emery‘s side.

However, Rashford has seen his loan spell at Aston Villa effectively ended early due to injury, meaning focus will now turn towards his future, which Darren Bent believes should still be in the Midlands.

Marcus Rashford sent Jesse Lingard warning

There will be plenty of speculation around the future of the 27-year-old come the summer, with the level of interest there will be in him.

Barcelona have once again been touted as a potential destination for Rashford, although Aston Villa could still bring him back.

With Rashford having left Man United after falling out with manager Ruben Amorim, Bent believes there is no way back for him at Old Trafford.

He has also suggested that the attacker should not take his return to form with Villa for granted, as Jesse Lingard did after excelling on loan at West Ham from Man United, only to turn down a permanent return to the Hammers.

Indeed, Lingard now finds himself playing for FC Seoul in South Korea following an ill-fated spell at Nottingham Forest after his career back in Manchester stalled.

Now, Bent has urged Rashford to remain at Aston Villa next season in order to avoid getting into a similar situation.

Speaking on talkSPORT about what the future might hold for the attacker, the ex-England international said: “I just think for Rashford, I’m not sure going back to Man United is the right fit for him.

“Because I almost, and I know it’s different scenarios but I remember Jesse Lingard going to West Ham, and he was absolutely on some different level, remember how good he was…

“Then he made the decision not to go back to West Ham, to go back to United, and he just faded away again, then he went to [Nottingham] Forest, and Forest didn’t work.

“But I think Villa’s a great club for him [Rashford]. The fans have taken him on board as well, they’ve liked what they’ve seen from him.

“Again Unai Emery’s liked him because we’ve spoke about Ollie Watkins being his main man… then Rashford’s come in and he’s started over Watkins a couple of times.

“If you’re Marcus Rashford and you’ve had that conversation with Unai Emery you know that he rates you, so I think sometimes rather than looking at what else is out there, Aston Villa are in a great spot.

“They’re a club going in the right direction, great manager, training ground’s unbelievable, stadium’s lovely as well, why would you want to go anywhere?”

Aston Villa should look to do Man United transfer deal

Football Insider Verdict

In the wake of his benching in favour of Rashford, it is understood that Watkins is one player who could leave Aston Villa in the summer transfer window.

Should that happen, they will inevitably need alternative attacking options to continue to score the goals they need to remain competitive.

In Rashford, they have someone available who they trust to make those contributions, and who has shown he can do so for them.

With that in mind it would feel like a sensible decision for Aston Villa to make, although Rashford would obviously have to agree to a deal as well.

Given he clearly wants to play at the highest level possible, Emery and co. may have a fight on their hands to convince him to do that if they miss out on Champions League football.

But after what happened to him at Man United and Lingard after he chose not to return to West Ham, electing to move elsewhere would be a risk for Rashford.

That is particularly the case given he knows he can play regularly for a club in a strong position on the whole if he stays at Aston Villa.