Unai Emery’s answer was a non-answer. But, designed to be concealing, it was also revealing. Would Aston Villa take up their £40m option to buy Marcus Rashford? “We don’t want to waste time speaking about it,” the manager replied. And yet he had also outlined the various scenarios that alter the equation.
“If we are in the Champions League, if we are in the Europa League, if we are in the European Conference League or not in Europe or winning a trophy, it is completely different,” Emery said. It was an answer he could deploy if asked about Marco Asensio, another loanee of considerable pedigree but who would require a sizeable outlay if his move was to become permanent.
