MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: Marcus Rashford of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League ... More match between Manchester City FC and Aston Villa FC at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images) Getty Images It was revealing that in Aston Villa’s two biggest games of the season, Marcus Rashford started in attack. This meant Ollie Watkins started on the bench against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals and Manchester City in the Premier League as his on-loan teenage was favoured by Unai Emery. Watkins has given the start against Newcastle United and offered a reminder of his quality by opening the scoring in a 4-1 win, but the 29-year-old is quite clearly below Rashford in the pecking order at Villa Park right now. Rashford, however, might not be a Villa player beyond the end of the season. BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, interacts with Marcus Rashford ... More of Aston Villa during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 training session at Bodymoor Heath training ground on March 11, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Morgan Harlow/Getty Images) Getty Images Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United in January as Emery looked to add attacking quality to his squad following the departure of Jhon Duran. Rashford was available and so Villa made its move. Villa reportedly has an option to make Rashford’s transfer a permanent one at the end of the season, but this could cost as much as £45m. Villa might be wiser to spend that money on another player. While Rashford has contributed since January, he still hasn’t rediscovered his best form. The 29-year-old was exceptional in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against PSG, but was indecisive on the ball in the first leg at the Parc des Princes. MORE FOR YOU Google Confirms Gmail Update—How To Keep Your Email Account Do Not Make Calls On Your Phone If You Get This Message Gmail Hack — Google Warns Users Have 7 Days To Act What’s more, Aston Villa could find that the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) limits its transfer market activity, particularly if Emery’s team miss out on a place in the top five and qualification for next season’s Champions League. Villa might not have £45m to spare for Rashford. BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Marcus Rashford of Aston Villa battles for the ball with Marquinhos ... More of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park on April 15, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) Getty Images Aston Villa has made great strides forward under Emery. The Spaniard pitched up at Villa Park when the club was fighting relegation from the Premier League. Now, Villa is an established member of the English soccer elite and is attempting to make sure it keeps its seat at the Champions League table for next season. January was a blockbuster transfer window for Aston Villa as it landed Marco Asensio and Rashford. Both players are capable of deciding a match in a single moment, as they have shown over the past three months. However, Villa signed the pair when it still had Champions League soccer. The landscape might be different at the end of the season. Rashford might not fit the picture by then. Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades