Crystal Palace have emerged as surprise contenders in the race to sign Marcus Rashford, with the South London club closely monitoring developments surrounding the Manchester United forward’s future as the summer transfer window approaches.

The 26-year-old England international, who secured a loan switch to Aston Villa during the January transfer window, has enjoyed flashes of his trademark form since making the temporary move, scoring five goals and providing three assists in 22 appearances across all competitions for Unai Emery’s side.

Rashford’s improved performances did not go unnoticed by England boss Thomas Tuchel, earning him a recall to the national team setup for the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Villa reportedly hold a £40 million buy option to make Rashford’s move permanent at the end of the season, with a final decision on his long-term future at Villa Park expected to be made in June. However, should Villa choose not to trigger the clause, Palace are reportedly poised to make an ambitious move for the versatile attacker.

According to SunSport, a reliable source within the Palace hierarchy revealed: “The club is keeping a very close watch on Marcus Rashford’s situation at both Villa and Manchester United. There’s a positive atmosphere around Selhurst Park at the moment, and adding a player of Rashford’s calibre would align perfectly with our ambitions moving forward.”

Oliver Glasner, who took over the managerial reins at Palace earlier in the season, has overseen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes, steering the team clear of relegation worries and into mid-table stability in 12th place. The Eagles have also advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals, thanks to a dynamic core of young, talented players such as Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton, and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

However, Palace could face stiff competition from abroad, with Paris Saint-Germain also believed to be long-time admirers of Rashford, having previously shown interest during the 2023 summer transfer window. There remains a chance the forward could attempt to resurrect his career at Old Trafford, although that would likely involve mending strained relations with current manager Ruben Amorim, who has yet to publicly comment on Rashford’s future.

The United boss is expected to sanction a significant squad overhaul this summer following a turbulent campaign, with several high-profile players including Jadon Sancho, Antony, Harry Maguire, and Victor Lindelöf potentially heading for the exit to reduce the wage bill and generate funds for new arrivals. Rashford’s fate now hangs in the balance as Villa, United, Palace, and PSG prepare to make their moves.