The advantages and drawbacks of Arsenal making a possible move for Marcus Rashford have been outlined to GOAL by ‘Invincibles’ squad member Jeremie Aliadiere. The Gunners have already allowed Leandro Trossard to leave Emirates Stadium, while uncertainty continues to surround Gabriel Martinelli’s future, and there is clear rebuilding work to be done in the summer transfer window.
Could Rashford follow Christos Tzolis to Emirates Stadium?
That reshaping process appears to have begun with a move for Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis, who already has experience of English football from his time at Norwich. The Greece international is 24, which means Arsenal could still look to bring in a more experienced option alongside him.
Focus may yet switch to Rashford, with the 28-year-old attacker continuing to generate heavy speculation over his future. He spent last season on loan at Barcelona, enjoying La Liga title success while scoring 14 goals in all competitions.
Could he trade the champions of Spain for the champions of England? Arsenal are aiming to build on a first top-flight title in 22 years. Squad depth is essential, especially with Champions League football to be balanced alongside domestic cup commitments.
Rashford could represent value if Manchester United approve a sale
Rashford appears to be searching for a route out of Old Trafford, even with familiar face Michael Carrick now in charge in Manchester. He would bring added pedigree to Mikel Arteta’s squad, while also offering the flexibility to play on either flank or through the middle as a central striker.
He may not come at an inflated cost either, in a market where nine-figure transfer fees are increasingly common, as Barcelona chose not to take up the chance to sign the productive loanee for £26 million ($35m). United would ask for more in any permanent transfer, but there could still be a bargain available.
Would Rashford be a smart signing for the Gunners?
Asked whether the Manchester United academy graduate, who has been involved on World Cup duty, could be a clever addition for Arsenal, Aliadiere told GOAL: “Good option. The good thing with Marcus Rashford, he knows the league. He's British, comes from the academy at Man United, so he knows what it is and how it feels to deal with the pressure.
“But when you look at his last few seasons at Man United, it's been a lot of up and down as well for different reasons. So do you feel, letting Trossard go and getting Rashford, is that really a guaranteed better level, guaranteed success and better return on the investment? I don't know. I'm not sure about it. I can't say that.
“I know they are different players, but I just think Trossard, the goals that he came up with and the important goals that he scored - that goal at West Ham last year, this is the goal that got us through the line.
“I totally understand that you've got to let players go if they want to move on, different reasons, but you've got to make sure you replace them with players that are going to deliver straight away. And Rashford lately has been, like I said, up and down. He can have some unbelievable games, but some games where he's not there either.
“So you just think, is that what the champion of England wants to get? I don't know. But when you see the quality and the number of great players Arsenal have got, maybe Marcus Rashford will come and not even start straight away anyway. Because when you see there's Martinelli still there. You just don't know.
“I'm not sure Mikel is just looking for someone to come in to be the number one. He's looking for great players that can come in and then fight for their position. And whoever's the best and trains the best will play at the weekend.”
Arsenal are strengthening a Premier League title-winning squad
Trossard has left north London to take on a new challenge in Turkey with Besiktas. Tzolis looks set to become the immediate replacement for the industrious Belgian, who scored 36 goals for Arsenal in 174 appearances.
If Brazil star Martinelli also moves on, then further spending will be required to add badly needed attacking power. Rashford’s name could enter recruitment talks at that stage, and it promises to be a busy summer for a player hoping for some positive news after suffering World Cup semi-final heartbreak with England.
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