Arsenal are reportedly considering a loan move for Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford, according to iNews, as their pursuit of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi appears to be nearing its end. Bouaddi is expected to join Manchester City, reports Graeme Bailey of TeamTalk, after impressing at the 2026 World Cup with Morocco.
Lille initially demanded a €97 million fee for Bouaddi, but Manchester City are prepared to meet the valuation, having already broken their transfer record this summer with the signing of Elliott Anderson. This setback comes after Arsenal recently missed out on Morgan Rogers, who joined Aston Villa.
The situation surrounding Rashford is complex, with Barcelona withdrawing their interest in a permanent deal due to his high wages. Manchester United are reluctant to sell to a Premier League rival but may be open to a loan to Arsenal, Chelsea, or Tottenham to alleviate his salary from their wage bill.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are continuing to explore options to strengthen their attacking line. They have already agreed a deal for Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, following the sale of Leandro Trossard to Besiktas, and have revisited their interest in Ajax winger Mika Godts. Reports from FootballLondon suggest his price tag could range from €40 million to €55 million.
Further down the line, Hamburger SV are still pushing for a permanent deal for Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira, after a successful loan spell last season. However, the clubs remain significantly apart in valuation, with Arsenal seeking over €20 million and Hamburg currently offering around €10 million. The Gunners also are monitoring 16-year-old striker Mylo Bernard, whose contract recently expired at Crystal Palace, according to The Secret Scout, and could make a counter-offer to Palace’s new contract offer.
Securing Rashford on loan would provide Mikel Arteta with additional depth in wide areas, while the pursuit of Godts indicates a desire for further attacking reinforcements. Vieira’s potential departure would free up further funds, but bridging the valuation gap with Hamburg remains a challenge.
