Crystal Palace Eyes Marcus Rashford If Villa Deal Falls Through

London, England — Crystal Palace is considering a bold move to acquire Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, should Aston Villa fail to secure a permanent deal at the end of his current loan this season.

Rashford, who was loaned to Villa during the January transfer window, has made a notable impact, scoring five goals and providing three assists in 22 appearances. His performance has earned him a recall to the England squad by coach Thomas Tuchel for the upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

Aston Villa holds an option to buy Rashford for approximately £40 million from Manchester United after the loan period expires in June. A source informed The Sun on Sunday that Crystal Palace is closely observing Rashford’s situation and plans to engage with him this summer if Villa does not complete the transfer.

Currently, Crystal Palace sits in 12th place in the Premier League and has advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals, where they will face Aston Villa. Under the direction of Austrian manager Oliver Glasner, the club has assembled an exciting roster featuring players like Adam Wharton, Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr, Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Chelsea loanee Ben Chilwell.

The source commented, “Palace are keeping a very close eye on Rashford and what happens with Villa and United. There is a good buzz around the club at the moment, and someone like Marcus is exactly the kind of player they would love to attract. They know they would have to retain their better players to try and persuade Marcus to move to South London.”

In recent news, Paris Saint-Germain has also expressed interest in Rashford. Meanwhile, a return to Old Trafford has not been completely dismissed due to Manchester United’s ongoing scoring difficulties, contingent on whether Rashford can mend his relationship with manager Ruben Amorim.

Amorim has highlighted Rashford in discussions surrounding Manchester United’s needs, especially considering the possibility of a significant overhaul during the upcoming transfer window. Reports hint that the Portuguese manager may receive a £200 million transfer budget, provided he can first offload several current players.

Rashford is among the candidates for departure, as his high wages could significantly impact the club’s financial flexibility. Other players such as Antony and Jadon Sancho—currently on loan at Real Betis and Chelsea—are also seen as potential exits. Additionally, names like Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Andre Onana, and Tyrell Malacia have been mentioned in transfer discussions.

As Manchester United prepares for what could be their most challenging Premier League finish in history, young talents like Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho may also face uncertain futures.