Arsenal eye Marcus Rashford on temporary deal after Martinelli sale leaves left-wing gap

Arsenal are considering a temporary deal for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford as Mikel Arteta’s side scrambles to fill the left-wing vacancy left by Gabriel Martinelli’s departure, according to a report by Miguel Delaney of The Independent.

The Gunners’ primary target remains Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, but with several big-money moves having fallen through this summer, Rashford has emerged as a fallback option. Delaney reports there is “internal surprise” at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground that the club allowed Martinelli to leave after seven years without first securing an alternative.

“If Arsenal don’t get [Alvarez], they are relatively relaxed,” Delaney writes, adding that “some sources believe it could see Arsenal move for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford on a temporary deal. It’s just as possible they keep the money and wait.”

Rashford, valued at €40m by Transfermarkt, has been made available by United owner Jim Ratcliffe, who has previously sanctioned loan moves for the England international to Aston Villa and Barcelona to ease the wage burden at Old Trafford. United’s new manager Michael Carrick has indicated he would welcome Rashford remaining at the club, having used him as a substitute in last week’s defeat to Hull City.

Arsenal’s summer has been marked by a string of high-profile misses. Morgan Rogers chose Chelsea over the Gunners, Vinicius Jr signed an improved contract at Real Madrid, and Bradley Barcola is now on the verge of joining Liverpool — a deal Arsenal never formally pursued.

Should both the Alvarez and Rashford avenues close, Arteta would be left with Christos Tzolis as his only specialist left-winger in the squad. The Arsenal head coach has already shown flexibility in that area, deploying Eberechi Eze on the left flank in last week’s win over Coventry City, while Noni Madueke and academy prospect Max Dowman offer further cover.

Arsenal return to Premier League action against Aston Villa next weekend.