Marcus Rashford linked with shock Premier League club as billionaire NFL owner 'targets takeover'

Marcus Rashford has been linked with a move to a surprise Premier League club this summer amid reports they are being targeted for a big-money takeover.

Rashford is currently on loan at Aston Villa, having joined Unai Emery's side from Manchester United in January.

He collected four assists in his first nine matches for the club and earned a recall to the England squad under new manager Thomas Tuchel.

Rashford then scored a brace in Villa's 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Preston North End last month, and then netted again in a 3-0 Premier League win over Brighton days later.

Villa have an option to make the United forward's move permanent this summer, for a fee reported as £40 million.

However, Rashford could still decide to move elsewhere if he chooses.

And according to The Sun, Crystal Palace are tracking the 27-year-old's progress with a view to making a shock summer move.

It is claimed that they would only swoop if Villa decide not to sign him permanently, and a source told the outlet that the club know they must keep hold of their key players, such as Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Marc Guehi.

The Sun also claim that current minority owner John Textor wants to form a partnership with billionaire New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, which would see the pair attempt to buy a greater stake in Palace and give them potentially more money to spend in the summer.

Rashford has thus far remained tight-lipped over his future plans, but manager Emery has repeatedly praised him since he arrived at Villa Park.

Speaking ahead of his side's Champions League quarter-final clash against PSG last week - which Villa lost 3-1 - Emery said: "He's really happy with his team-mates. He's being demanding of himself, with everything we want to work with him, with the team.

"And I think he's playing freely. He's playing comfortably, and this is the most important thing, to try to connect with him as a person firstly. And after it, to connect with him as a player.

"How he can exploit his qualities as best as possible with us, this is a process we have still work to do.

"But the most important was his feeling. We are seeing him smiling, and it is the best news we can have. And I am seeing him happy."