Manchester United are weighing up a potential swap deal involving Marcus Rashford and Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins.
Ruben Amorim has made the signing of a centre-forward his number one priority for the summer transfer window. Watkins has emerged as an option for the Red Devils, who have opened conversations with Aston Villa over a deal.
United have proposed the prospect of using Marcus Rashford in exchange, with the latter having impressed on loan at Aston Villa this season. The 27-year-old has three goals and six assists since joining Villa on loan in January and has been preferred to Watkins in recent fixtures.
Aston Villa have an option to make Rashford’s move permanent for £40m, though Football Transfers claim that discussions over a swap deal have been initiated by Manchester United.
A sensational finish from Ollie after that ping from Youri 😮💨 🎯 pic.twitter.com/o0p92SDX4X
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 12, 2025
Earlier this week, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery suggested Champions League football could be crucial to the club’s ability to sign Rashford.
“It is difficult to plan it now. It depends on the circumstances and what happens in the next weeks,” he said to the media after facing PSG.
Watkins is viewed as a Premier League proven option to improve a Manchester United forward line that has floundered this season. Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have combined for just six league goals and the latter has been linked with a return to Italy.
Watkins, in contrast, has scored 15 times in all competitions and provided a further 12 assists. The 29-year-old was subject of an approach from Arsenal in the January with the Gunners failing with a £60m offer late in the window.
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