Arsenal eyes late move for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford

With the transfer window winding down to its final days, Arsenal is reportedly weighing a late move for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford. The interest appears directly linked to the potential departure of Gabriel Martinelli, whose expected transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal has left the Gunners scrambling for attacking reinforcement. Why Arsenal needs a Plan B (or Plan R) Martinelli’s expected move to Al-Hilal is valued at around £50 million. That’s a significant fee for a player Arsenal would be letting go, but it also creates an obvious hole in Mikel Arteta’s attacking options heading into the business end of the Premier League campaign. Arsenal sources are said to be internally surprised that no direct replacement for Martinelli has been lined up. The club’s primary transfer target this window has been Julián Álvarez of Atlético Madrid, not a wide forward in Martinelli’s mold. Enter Rashford. The 28-year-old England international represents a proven Premier League option who could, in theory, slot into Arsenal’s system with minimal adjustment time. A loan deal, rather than a permanent transfer, appears to be the structure Arsenal is considering, which would lower the ...