Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes that England forward Marcus Rashford could be a shrewd acquisition for Arsenal, 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. According to reports, Rashford is now available for £40m to clubs other than local rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
Ferdinand said that Arsenal should jump at the opportunity to sign Rashford, describing him as a "real talent" who still has a lot to offer. He also urged manager Mikel Arteta to bring Rashford to the Emirates, saying that the Englishman would be a good fit for the team.
However, Ferdinand also noted that signing Rashford could mean replacing one of Arsenal's current players, such as Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard. He acknowledged that this could be a difficult decision, but stressed that Rashford's potential is undeniable.
In related news, United are closing in on a deal for Chelsea's Andrey Santos, a Brazilian international midfielder who is expected to cost around £50m. Ferdinand believes that Santos has plenty of growth and potential, and could provide a good return on investment for the Red Devils.
Ferdinand praised Santos' development at Chelsea, saying that he was told by one of the club's recruitment team that the young midfielder has the potential to be a Brazil national team player for the next 10 years. He believes that United have bought someone of the right profile for the club who will be one of two or three midfielders that they sign this year.
United will hope that Rashford's potential sale will help raise funds for incomings, with central midfield a clear priority for manager Michael Carrick. The club's transfer strategy will be closely watched in the coming weeks and months as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
