Marcus Rashford has completed his medical at Aston Villa as he edges ever closer to a loan move away from Manchester United.
The deal will be an initial loan until the end of the season but it will also include an option for Villa to sign Rashford permanently for a pre-agreed fee, which is understood to be £40million.
Rashford had already agreed personal terms with Villa for the duration of the loan and was expected to complete his medical on Sunday.
That seems to have gone to plan, with a photo emerging of him signing a contract next to Villa managing director Monchi.
The 60-time England international is currently earning around £350,000 per week at Old Trafford, where his contract is not due to expire until June 2028.
It is understood that Villa will cover 70 per cent of his wages, while the loan package will include bonuses for progressing in Europe and for qualifying for the Champions League again next season.
Marcus Rashford completed his medical with Aston Villa on Sunday ahead of a loan move
Rashford has not played for Manchester United since December’s 2-1 win at Viktoria Plzen
Rashford has not played for United since mid-December when he fell out with head coach Ruben Amorim.
The 27-year-old has missed the last 12 matches under Amorim – who has questioned his lifestyle and commitment.
Amorim even went as far as saying that he’d rather place his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach on the United bench instead of Rashford due to a perceived lack of effort.
Rashford has been at United since he was eight years old and has never played senior club football for another team.
However, he is expected to wrap up a switch to Villa Park before Monday’s winter transfer deadline, with an announcement seemingly imminent.
Rashford joins a Villa side now in need of attacking reinforcements after Jhon Duran – Unai Emery’s leading goalscorer this season – completed his £65m move to Al-Nassr earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins – whose goal tally of 11 is one short of Duran – suffered an injury scare on Saturday night and was subbed off at half-time in Villa’s 2-0 defeat at Wolves.
As such, Rashford may be immediately thrown into the Villa starting XI, despite having a lack of match sharpness.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery (left) is moving for Rashford after selling Jhon Duran (right)
Rashford – who has 138 United goals to his name after making 426 senior appearances for the Old Trafford outfit – said goodbye to his team-mates on Saturday.
The former academy starlet spoke to United staff and players at Carrington after being given the green light to prepare for his switch to Villa.
