In a surprising turn of events, Premier League club Aston Villa is reportedly considering a drastic measure to secure the signing of Marcus Rashford from Barcelona. According to reports, the club may sell their women’s team in order to finance this ambitious move.
Unai Emery, the manager of Aston Villa, has openly expressed his admiration for Rashford. He is keen on retaining the English international following a successful loan stint from Manchester United. Meanwhile, Barcelona has also been monitoring Rashford as part of their strategy to bolster their attacking line.
However, with Barcelona recently shifting focus towards financial restraint and prioritising other profiles in recent weeks, it seems that an opportunity is slowly emerging for Aston Villa to make a strong push.
Financial challenges and strategies
Aston Villa faces significant financial challenges due to failing to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. Instead, they will be participating in the Europa League which brings less revenue.
Financial expert Dan Plumley suggests that this drop in revenue could be offset by selling the women’s team - an approach reminiscent of what Chelsea did last year when they transferred ownership of their women's section as a means of avoiding breaching financial regulations.
Exploiting legal loopholes
Plumley argues that by selling off its women's team, Aston Villa could exploit legal loopholes and free up enough resources not only for securing Rashford but also retaining key players like Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans. This strategic move could position them as a more stable and lucrative destination for Marcus Rashford who is currently being pursued by several clubs.
Despite these potential manoeuvres by Aston Villa though, it should be noted that player preference can still influence outcomes significantly. Reports suggest that Rashford leans towards moving into clubs like Barcelona which compete at the Champions League level and offer global prestige. However, with Barcelona recently cooling their interest due to a crowded forward line and budget constraints, Aston Villa's chances of securing Rashford seem to be on the rise.
Aston Villa's potential decision to sell its women’s team in order to finance the signing of Marcus Rashford is a bold move that reflects high ambitions. Whether this strategy will pay off remains uncertain but it certainly adds an interesting dynamic to the ongoing transfer saga involving one of football's most sought-after players.
