Sources: Rashford nears Utd exit with Villa loan

Aston Villa are close to agreeing a loan deal for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, sources have told ESPN.

ESPN reported on Friday that Unai Emery's team had expressed an interest in signing the England international and it now looks likely that Rashford could join them.

Rashford is set to move to Villa Park until the end of the season. Villa have agreed to cover a substantial part of Rashford's wage while other performance-related bonuses have been built into the deal.

Villa have been looking at options to bolster their attacking line after agreeing to let striker Jhon Durán leave for Al Nassr.

There is also an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

If Villa do not take up their option, Rashford will be expected back at Old Trafford in the summer.

Rashford is available after being frozen out by United head coach Ruben Amorim.

A source told ESPN that the 27-year-old's preference was to move to Barcelona. However, the LaLiga side's financial constraints made a deal complicated.

Borussia Dortmund have also expressed interest in Rashford, but his weekly wage of around £350,000-a-week ($434,000) is proving to be a major stumbling block.