Aston Villa signed off for the March international break in style, defeating LOSC Lille across two legs to secure their place in the last eight of the Europa League before breezing past West Ham United in the Premier League.
Unai Emery hasn't had it all his way since that brilliant run of form through Autumn, but it does feel like a corner has been turned ahead of the crucial business weeks of the season, with silverware to fight for and a top-four position to secure in the league.
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Captain John McGinn's return from injury has been crucial, his energy infectious, his leadership galvanising. Youri Tielemans is set to return too.
Fourth in the table and five points ahead of Liverpool in fifth, Emery will be confident that his team have enough to get the job done, but NSWE will have one eye on the summer transfer window.
Aston Villa's summer transfer plans
Aston Villa will have a number of positions to fill this summer, but there's a growing sense that the attacking flanks will take precedence.
A permanent deal for Jadon Sancho cannot be ruled out, but the England international is coveted by former club Borussia Dortmund, ahead of his Manchester United contract expiring this summer.
Despite signing Tammy Abraham in January, efforts may be taken to strengthen the front of the ship, with Ollie Watkins, 30, having suffered a big drop in form this season.
The Lions need a new talisman, and they may plan on returning for a former star this summer.
As per Sports Boom, Aston Villa are eager to explore a summer move for Marcus Rashford, should Barcelona waive the option to make his loan spell at Camp Nou a one-way trip.
FC Barcelona's Marcus Rashford reacts
The England international has a £26m buy option in his contract with the Spaniards, but they seem less likely to snap him up than they did at the start of the season, and Sancho's prospective return to Dortmund could pave the way for the Villa Park side.
In truth, this turn of events could play to Emery's favour with Villa said to be 'readying' a move for their former player.
Why Aston Villa should sign Marcus Rashford
Sancho has been a dutiful servant for Aston Villa this season, and while he has impressed in bursts, a return of one goal and three assists from 31 appearances suggests that they have not received bang for their buck, forking out over 80% of the Red Devils' wages, in excess of £200k per week.
Jadon Sancho for Aston Villa
Rashford, meanwhile, has rediscovered his Midas touch in front of goal. And in any case, Sancho's Old Trafford teammate made a bigger mark at Villa Park last season, scoring four goals and supplying six assists across 31 outings after breaking free from Ruben Amorim in January.
The 28-year-old hasn't been the sharpest in La Liga this season, only scoring four goals and missing nine big chances besides, but he's been a force to be reckoned with in the Champions League.
Marcus Rashford in the Premier League (Man Utd)
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Rashford's Premier League form has been a little choppy for quite some time, but he's certainly enjoying an effective campaign for a Barcelona side who have their sights set on a La Liga-Champions League double, posting ten goals and 13 assists across 39 outings in all competitions.
His pace and energy and willingness to stand up and be the focal point could be the perfect addition to a Villan side who have struck such incredible balance and fluency. When they are on their A-game, Emery's team can consume any opponent in Europe. In 2024, pundit Roy Keane praised him for his "world-class" talent, albeit with the winger unable to sustain it in recent years.
Sancho simply hasn't done enough over too long a stretch to warrant a permanent position in Emery's Aston Villa squad when someone like Rashford is there for the taking.
La Blaugrana may change their position, but as things stand, it doesn't appear likely that they will exercise the option to keep Rashford at the club, and given the Three Lions star's wealth of experience and success in the Premier League, dwarfing Sancho's own, it does feel like this one is a no-brainer.
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