Arsenal's Bold Move for Marcus Rashford to Replace Martinelli

Arsenal are weighing up a bold move to replace Gabriel Martinelli with Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, according to the UK Telegraph.

Martinelli is set to leave the Emirates in a deal worth more than £50 million, a fee that would represent a club-record sale for the Gunners. The Brazil winger has reportedly given the green light to a switch to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, having previously turned down interest from Galatasaray.

His impending exit has raised eyebrows inside the club. The Telegraph reports there is “some internal surprise” that Arsenal allowed Martinelli’s departure to progress without first locking in a replacement for the left-sided role.

Now the response has to be quick. The Premier League champions are expected to move for Rashford on a loan deal as they look to plug the gap in Mikel Arteta’s forward line.

Rashford, who has struggled to fully re-establish himself at Manchester United, has spent each of the last two seasons out on loan, first at Aston Villa and then at Barcelona. A temporary switch to north London would hand him another chance to relaunch his career at the top end of the Premier League – and give Arsenal a high-profile solution to a problem they arguably created themselves.