The latest Aston Villa transfer news from BirminghamLive as Manchester United make key decision on attacking stars
ESTADIO SAN MAMES, BILBAO, SPAIN - 2025/05/21: Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United FC looks dejected next to the trophy during the award ceremony following the UEFA Europa League final football match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Manchester United FC. Tottenham Hotspur FC won 1-0 over Manchester United FC. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Alejandro Garnacho has been linked with Aston Villa(Image: undefined via Getty Images)
Former Aston Villa loanee Marcus Rashford – and reported target Alejandro Garnacho are two of five players who are claimed to have been given extra time off by Manchester United.
That’s according to Sky Sports who say the pair will not be reporting for the start of pre-season training on Monday – with both said to be seeking a move away from Old Trafford.
The attackers are said to be joined by Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia as a quintet who have been given until ‘ later in July’ before they have to return to United’s training ground at Carrington.
Indeed Sky Sports say Rashford’s No. 10 has been given to new signing Matheus Cunha and they cite a source as telling them ‘it has been made clear’ to both Rashford and Sancho that they are not in Ruben Amorim's thinking for the 2025/26 campaign.
Rashford has not been available to United’s Portuguese manager since December, when he played what is looking like his last game for his boyhood club before being sent on loan to Villa.
During his time under Unai Emery the 27-year-old scored four goals in 17 matches before seeing his time curtailed by injury. Overall he did not do enough to convince Villa to make the financial commitment to trigger their £40million option to buy and he has now been widely linked with Barcelona.
Garnacho meanwhile was linked with Villa by The Independent and while he stayed with United until the end of the season, he was not involved in the final game after outspoken comments regarding his minutes in the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
While Garnacho might fit the profile Villa would like to sign in an ideal world, it is unlikely they will make such a splashy move unless it is part of an exchange deal. He has though, reportedly told United he wants to leave.
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