Marcus Rashford set for ‘awkward’ Manchester United reunion after 18 months away
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Marcus Rashford’s uncertain future could be resolved under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal after Manchester United were tipped to propose a swap deal involving Myles Lewis-Skelly.
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Rashford has not played for United in 18 months after falling out with former managers Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, but is now back at Carrington for pre-season after Barcelona decided against making his loan move permanent.
It remains unclear where he will play his football this coming season. Michael Carrick is said to be open to letting him reintegrate at United, who could do with adding attacking options amid Benjamin Sesko’s injury woes, though a fresh start away from Old Trafford is still possible.
In the opinion of former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon, Rashford could become a convenient target for Arsenal.
Homecoming: Marcus Rashford is back at Carrington
The Gunners have already brought in attacking reinforcements this summer by signing Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis, but Arteta has suggested he expects further recruitment this summer after a move for Vinicius Junior failed to materialise.
Dixon believes a swap deal involving Rashford and Lewis-Skelly could suit all parties.
“Would I swap them? You know what, I probably would,” he said, speaking via BestBettingSites. “And that's nothing against Myles Lewis-Skelly; it's about giving him the freedom to go and expand his game elsewhere.”
Lewis-Skelly played a fringe role for much of Arsenal’s title-winning 2025/26 campaign but became a fixture in the run-in and started in the Champions League final. He had been tenuously linked with a move to United earlier in the transfer window, but Standard Sport reported earlier this month that a deal was not actively being pursued.
Lee Dixon has tipped Myles Lewis-Skelly to join Manchester United
Dixon, however, feels Arteta would be able to help Rashford get back to his best as he looks to recover from his Barcelona snub.
He continued: “With Marcus Rashford, he's a player who needs an arm around his shoulder, and Arteta would be great for him.
“Give him that love, give him the freedom to play on that left side, and yeah, I'd like to see him in an Arsenal shirt.
“I have my reservations about whether he's consistently a top-class player, but based on what Arsenal have in the squad now, he'd be a good addition.”
Rashford’s future will become clearer in the coming days as he is expected to feature for United in pre-season friendlies against Leeds and Amorim’s AC Milan.