A recent report from Mundo Deportivo reveals a surprising and drastic measure that Aston Villa may consider to beat Barcelona to the signing of Marcus Rashford, which is selling their women’s team. 

Unai Emery, who has made no secret of his admiration for Rashford, is determined to keep the English international after a successful loan stint from Manchester United, while Barcelona have also been monitoring the player as part of their plan to reinforce the attacking line. 

However, with the Catalans focusing on financial restraint and prioritising other profiles in recent weeks, the door is slowly opening for Villa to make a strong push.

Villa are ready to go all out

Financially, Aston Villa are facing the consequences of failing to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, with their place taken instead in the Europa League. 

According to financial expert Dan Plumley, who spoke to Football Insider, this drop in revenue could be offset by selling the women’s team, a move reminiscent of what Chelsea did last year when they transferred ownership of their women’s section to avoid breaching financial regulations.

Plumley argues that Villa could exploit a legal loophole to free up enough resources to not only push for Rashford’s signing but also retain key players like Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, and Youri Tielemans. 

The club’s ambitions are clearly high, and by making such a significant move, they could position themselves as a more stable and lucrative destination for Rashford.

Despite Villa’s commitment and potential financial manoeuvring, the player’s preference could still sway the outcome. 

Rashford reportedly leans toward a move to a club of Barcelona’s stature, one that competes in the Champions League and offers global prestige. 

However, with Barça recently cooling their interest and adjusting their priorities due to a crowded forward line and budget constraints, Villa’s chances appear to be growing.