Marcus Rashford Arsenal deal: Shock North London swoop looms
Marcus Rashford Arsenal deal: Arsenal finally did it. After 22 long years of waiting, the Premier League trophy is back in north London. But Mikel Arteta isn’t the sort to sit back and admire his medals. The Spaniard knows that retaining a title, whilst juggling a brutal Champions League schedule and domestic cups, requires serious depth. The summer recruitment drive is already underway, and while the club initially looked at Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis, doubts over the 24-year-old Greece international’s long-term elite pedigree have forced a rethink. The hierarchy wants someone with more pedigree to challenge the left flank.
According to a report from Goal.com, Arsenal executives are now looking at a much bigger story. Rumours are swirling around a potential move for Marcus Rashford. The 28-year-old spent last season out on loan at Barcelona, where he picked up a La Liga winner’s medal and bagged 14 goals across all competitions. Now, a return to England could be on the cards.
Evaluating the transfer viability
It is a link that has certainly got people talking. Former Gunners striker Jeremie Aliadiere gave his thoughts on the potential deal to Wiz Slots, noting that the Manchester United academy graduate knows all about the intense pressure of English football. But there is a massive catch. Rashford’s career has been plagued by massive drops in form.
Aliadiere questioned whether letting Leandro Trossard leave to bring in Rashford actually guarantees a higher level of success or a better return on investment. It is a fair point. Trossard was brilliant last term, popping up with crucial goals, including that massive winner at West Ham, which essentially secured the title. Swapping that sort of reliability for an unpredictable player creates a real tactical headache for Arteta.
Why the move splits pundit opinion
Arteta isn’t looking for someone to walk straight into the starting eleven. He wants top-tier players who will push each other to the limit on the Colney training pitches. Gabriel Martinelli owns that left-wing spot right now, so any newcomer faces a massive fight for minutes.
That is where the Rashford gamble gets tricky. One week, he looks completely unplayable; the next, he completely disappears. Title-winning squads need consistency above all else. Because of that, a lot of people wonder if the forward actually fits the trajectory of this current Arsenal team.
Read: Arsenal preparing to hijack Liverpool’s £51m transfer deal for sensational winger
Scorzo’s opinion:
Spending a fortune on this deal feels like a massive financial risk for the champions. Paying huge wages for someone who could easily spend most of his time sitting on the bench behind Martinelli makes no statistical sense. Scoring 14 goals in Spain showed he can still do it, but Arsenal need a sure thing right now. Arteta would be far better off ignoring the noise and looking for a much more reliable winger.