'Not the problem' - Aston Villa icon makes big £40m Marcus Rashford call and 'dreaded time' transfer admission

Aston Villa will be looking to make another push for Champions League football next season. They fell short in the last campaign after their final day loss away at Manchester United. The Midlands outfit were beaten 2-0 at Old Trafford and saw goalkeeper Emi Martinez sent off.

Unai Emery will get the opportunity to boost his squad with some new signings in the transfer window. He will also get the chance to let some players leave should he wish to. That would help free up space and funds to pave the way for potential arrivals.

Aston Villa and Marcus Rashford verdict delivered by Gabby Agbonlahor

Aston Villa have been urged not to pursue a permanent deal for Marcus Rashford by Gabby Agbonlahor. They landed the attacker on loan in January. He is now due to return to Manchester United and his future is up in the air.

Agbonlahor has said, as per talkSPORT: “The main reason why I don't think he should come is he's going to upset the changing room. If you're Morgan Rodgers, you're [Ollie] Watkins, you're [Ezri] Konsa, you’ll say ‘Rashford's coming in on £300,000 a week. Okay then, well, I want £300,000 a week’.

“That's what happens in changing rooms. The £40million is not the problem, it's the wages. And Aston Villa's wage bill is massive. I think it might be over 90 per cent of their revenue, so you can't be going above maybe £200,000 a week. I think certain players want to play Champions League football. Marcus Rashford's already said that he wants Champions League football.”

He added: “Because you're missing out on the Champions League money, you've got to sell more players that you would have liked to. It's a dreaded time as a football fan, we want to keep our players, add players and build. These PSR [profitability and sustainability] rules are so frustrating for clubs like Villa, Newcastle, where they have to sell most seasons. It's just frustrating when we’ve sold Jhon Duran, Moussa Diaby, Douglas Luiz. And then 12 months later, we’ve got the same problem. You have to sell again.”

Will Aston Villa sign Marcus Rashford?

Aston Villa’s swoop for Rashford this past winter raised eyebrows. He was given the green light to leave United on a temporary basis after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim. The England international went on to play 17 games during his time at Villa Park and scored four goals, two of which came in the league.

Rashford has been on the books of the Red Devils for his whole career to date. He has risen up through their academy ranks and was a regular for them at various different youth levels. The Wythenshawe-born man then broke into their first-team and went on to become a key player.

It remains to be seen at this stage whether Aston Villa will try and bring him back. It appears his time at United is over but his next destination is yet to be known right now. Emery’s recruitment plans may have to change now afetr they failed to get into the Champions League, with a focus on spending less money likely to be on the agenda.