Since Unai Emery took charge in October 2022, Aston Villa has undergone a remarkable transformation in the transfer market.

Big names such as Jhon Duran, Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres, Amadou Onana, Marco Asensio, and Marcus Rashford have all joined the Midlands club signings that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.

Thanks to Emery’s influence, Villa is now seen as an attractive destination for top talents. With the summer transfer window approaching, the big question remains: Who will be the next high-profile arrival?

Rashford’s Start at Villa

Despite scoring in his first two league games under Ruben Amorim, it was clear that Marcus Rashford was not part of Manchester United’s long-term plans.

His loan move to Villa provided an opportunity to reignite his form and possibly convince United to reconsider his future or encourage Emery to sign him permanently.

While the 27-year-old is yet to score for Villa, he has provided four assists, including two in an impressive performance against Chelsea.

In that 2-1 victory, Rashford came off the bench in the second half, setting up both goals for Asensio.

He also completed two successful dribbles, created two big chances, made three key passes, and lost possession only five times.

Marco's winner ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/9NEXSQ47BH

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 22, 2025

Should Villa Invest in Rashford?

Rashford has adapted well under Emery, thriving in an attack that includes Asensio, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins.

However, at 27, the winger is approaching the latter stages of his prime. With an option to buy set at £40m, Villa must decide whether it’s worth investing in a player who may only have a couple of peak years left.

Marcus Rashford on the assist, Marco Asensio gets the goal! 🤝

Aston Villa's goal is ruled onside after a VAR review ✅ pic.twitter.com/lWnd5lngQG

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 22, 2025

It’s no surprise, then, that Villa is considering alternative Premier League attackers to strengthen their squad for next season.

Villa Eyeing Dango Ouattara

According to Caught Offside, Villa is in a transfer battle with Newcastle United for Bournemouth winger Dango Ouattara this summer.

The Burkina Faso international could be available for €40m (£33.5m), with interest also coming from Serie A giants Napoli and AC Milan.

Should Villa secure Champions League football, it could give them an advantage in the race for his signature.

Just reliving this @DangoOuattara penalty as we head into FA Cup mode 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/MMUsooWwWI

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) March 29, 2025

Comparing Ouattara and Rashford

At just 23 years old, Ouattara has a longer career ahead than Rashford, making him an attractive long-term investment.

Though he initially struggled in the Premier League, his performances in 2024 have been exceptional. This season, he has recorded:

• 7 league goals and 4 assists in 26 appearances
• 2 additional goals in the FA Cup
• 11 goal contributions overall

Football analyst Ben Mattinson has even called him “one of the league’s most underrated players”, especially after his hat-trick against Nottingham Forest in January.

A statistical comparison highlights Ouattara’s impact:

Statistic (2024/25 PL Season)	Dango Ouattara	Marcus Rashford
Goals + Assists	11	7
Shots per 90 mins	2.85	1.75
Shot-Creating Actions	55	46
Goal-Creating Actions per 90	0.36	0.31
Successful Take-ons	45.6%	30.9%
Big Chances Created	9	8

Ouattara has been more effective in attack, creating more opportunities, completing more dribbles, and making a bigger overall impact in the final third.

A Smart Investment for Villa?

Ouattara’s form has turned heads, with former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington describing him as “incredible.”

His rapid rise suggests he’s ready for the next step in his career, and a move to Villa potentially with Champions League football could be the perfect fit.

If Villa wants to continue building for the future, investing in a 23-year-old talent like Ouattara might be a smarter move than committing £40m to Rashford, who is nearing 28.

With Emery’s ambition and Villa’s upward trajectory, securing Ouattara could be a game-changing transfer one that proves to be money well spent.

Bayern Munich face yet another injury setback after Hiroki Ito appeared to re-aggravate a previous issue during their 3-2 home win over St. Pauli on Saturday.

The Japanese defender entered the match in the 58th minute, replacing Raphaël Guerreiro, but was forced to leave the pitch just 30 minutes later due to a foot injury.

Bayern Confirm Ito’s Injury Relapse

Both sporting director Christoph Freund and head coach Vincent Kompany confirmed that Ito had re-injured the same foot that had kept him sidelined for much of the season.

The 25-year-old was signed from VfB Stuttgart in the summer for €23.5 million but has struggled with injuries since his arrival. He only made his debut for Bayern last month and has since managed just eight appearances, with only three league starts.

At no point has the 21-time Japan international completed a full 90 minutes for his new club.

Speaking after the match, Freund expressed concern over Ito’s condition, telling Sky Germany:

“It’s his foot. It’s tough. The lad is in a lot of pain.”

Kompany also acknowledged the setback, stating:

“He felt the same foot that he had problems with this season. It’s not great for us. He’ll be examined. It’s too early for a definitive statement.”

With Bayern already dealing with multiple injuries, the club now faces an anxious wait for a more precise diagnosis on Ito’s condition.

Lionel Messi is expected to feature for Inter Miami on Saturday after missing Argentina’s international break due to injury.

The superstar picked up a left thigh strain and an adductor issue after scoring in Miami’s 2-1 win over Atlanta United on March 16.

As a result, he was left out of Argentina’s squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay (1-0 win) and Brazil (4-1 win).

Despite his absence, Argentina secured their place at the 2026 World Cup finals.

Messi’s Injury Update

On Friday, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano provided a positive update on Messi’s condition, confirming that he is “doing well” and is expected to be available for the Philadelphia Union clash on Saturday (7:30 PM ET kick-off).

“He knows his body very well, and the reality is that he has been training progressively more and more, and has joined in to do some training sessions with the group. And today he will do the entire training session,” Mascherano said.

Messi and Inter Miami have enjoyed an impressive start to the season.

The Argentine has registered four goals and five assists in just four starts across all competitions.

In MLS, he has scored one goal, which came against Atlanta, helping Miami to three wins and one draw in their first four games.

Messi has also been prolific in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, scoring home and away against Sporting Kansas City and finding the net against Cavalier.

His contributions have helped Inter Miami reach the quarterfinals, where they will face LAFC in a two-legged tie over the coming weeks.

Inter Miami’s Other Top Performers

Interestingly, three Inter Miami players have been even more productive in attack than Messi this season:

• Luis Suárez – four goals and eight assists
• Tadeo Allende – four goals and seven assists
• Telasco Segovia – three goals and eight assists

With Messi returning to full fitness, Inter Miami will be looking to maintain their strong form as they continue their domestic and continental campaigns.