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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 financial barrier considerably.
Rashford’s Barcelona redemption arc
Rashford’s 2025/26 loan to Camp Nou contributed 28 goals across all competitions during his time in Catalonia, rediscovering the electric pace and finishing instinct that once made him one of England’s most exciting young talents. He returned to Old Trafford this summer as a fundamentally different proposition than the player who left.
The Ratcliffe factor
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United’s co-owner, has expressed reluctance to sell Rashford to a direct Premier League competitor, partly for strategic reasons and partly due to public relations concerns around selling a homegrown academy product to Arsenal.
A £40 million release clause that was previously embedded in Rashford’s contract has expired or become inactive, removing one clear pathway to a straightforward deal. Without that clause, Manchester United holds significantly more leverage in any negotiation.
What this means for Arsenal’s window
Arsenal’s pursuit of Rashford sits in a tricky space between ambition and pragmatism. The club clearly wants to add attacking depth, especially if Martinelli departs. But Rashford is described as a secondary target behind Álvarez, making this less of a marquee pursuit and more of a contingency plan.
Ratcliffe’s willingness to negotiate, Arsenal’s ability to structure a deal that works for both sides, and Rashford’s own preferences all remain unresolved as the transfer window approaches its closing days, with no confirmed transfer or imminent deal in place.
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