Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal should ‘sweep Marcus Rashford off his feet’ and make the Manchester United star their new left winger.
Arsenal have made signing a left winger one of their main priorities over this summer transfer window, especially with Leandro Trossard poised to leave the club.
Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is said to be keen on a move to the Premier League champions while Arsenal are exploring a move to sign Greek winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.
The Gunners are also keeping tabs on Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola who may seek a fresh challenge having slipped down Luis Enrique’s pecking order last season.
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However, Ferdinand believes that England forward Rashford could be a shrewd acquisition, with the 28-year-old facing an uncertain future upon his return to Old Trafford.
Rashford was hoping to earn a permanent £26million move to Barcelona after a successful loan last season, but the Spanish giants instead decided to sign Anthony Gordon in a £70m deal from Newcastle United.
Reports suggest Rashford is available for £40m to clubs other than local rivals Manchester City and Liverpool, and Ferdinand said Arsenal should jump at that price tag.
‘I’m taking Rashford,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel when a transfer to Arsenal was suggested by co-host Stephen Howson.
‘For 40 milion, I am sweeping Marcus Rashford off his feet.’
Meanwhile, Arsenal legend David Seaman has also endorsed the move, describing the Englishman as a ‘real talent’.
‘I would like that move because I still think Marcus Rashford has got a lot to offer,’ Seaman said on The Good, The Bad & The Football. ‘He’s still very dangerous when he’s on it.
‘But then, straight away, my head then goes, “Who’s he gonna replace?” We’ve got [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Leandro] Trossard.
‘If they sign Rashford, they’re probably going to get rid of one of those two. But he is a real talent.’
United, meanwhile, will hope that Rashford’s potential sale will help raise funds for incomings, with central midfield a clear priority for Michael Carrick.
The Red Devils looked set to complete a deal for Brazil international Ederson, but appear to have backed out of a £35m deal due to concerns over his medical.
Instead, United appear to be pressing ahead for a £50m deal for Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, a deal which Ferdinand believes could provide plenty of upside for his former club.
‘I think there’s a lot of growth, there’s a lot of potential,’ Ferdinand said.
‘I spoke to one of the guys behind the scenes at recruitment at Chelsea when he first went there and they were raving about him and the potential in the kid.
‘He’ll be a Brazil national team player for the next 10 years no doubts in my mind. He’s not the main midfielder at Chelsea but Man United I think have bought someone of the right profile for the club who’s going to be one of two or three midfielders that they sign this year.
‘They’re not going to go out and blow the whole budget on one big player if it doesn’t sit right with the club in terms of the right budget for the club and that’s where we’re at right now.’
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