With Martinelli now on his way out, sources now believe Arsenal could turn to the international star as a potential solution.
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Arsenal could make a late move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford after Gabriel Martinelli’s departure, according to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney.
The Gunners are continuing to work behind the scenes on a potential deal for Julian Alvarez, but Martinelli’s exit has created another issue for Mikel Arteta to solve before the transfer window closes.
Delaney reports that there is “some internal surprise” at Arsenal that Martinelli was allowed to leave before the club secured an alternative for the position.
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The Brazilian is closing in on a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal after seven years in north London, with Arsenal set to receive a fee in excess of £50m.
With Martinelli now on his way out, some sources believe Arsenal could turn to Rashford as a potential short-term solution.
The Manchester United forward spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa and his future at Old Trafford remains uncertain. A temporary deal could therefore provide Arsenal with an experienced option on the left side of their attack while they assess their longer-term plans.
However, Delaney makes clear that Arsenal’s main focus remains Alvarez.
The Argentine striker is the attacker Arteta believes can take his current side to another level, with Arsenal having carefully worked towards a potential deal throughout the summer.
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Atletico Madrid’s refusal to sell Alvarez to Barcelona has also opened the door for the Gunners, with the Spanish club reportedly determined not to allow their star forward to join their La Liga rivals.
The club could potentially use Viktor Gyokeres as part of negotiations, with the Portuguese striker understood to be an attractive option to Atletico.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Alvarez, Delaney says Arsenal remain relatively relaxed if they fail to complete the deal.
The squad is considered to be “almost exactly” where Arteta wants it, with Alvarez viewed as the final piece that could transform an already strong attack into the manager’s ideal frontline.
The potential Rashford move would therefore represent a separate development following Martinelli’s unexpected departure rather than a replacement for Arsenal’s pursuit of Alvarez.
With the transfer deadline approaching, Arsenal could now have two major attacking decisions to make — whether to complete their long-term pursuit of Alvarez and whether to bring in a temporary replacement for Martinelli.