Marcus Rashford had a difficult season for Manchester United (Picture: Getty)
Ex-Arsenal star Bacary Sagna has encouraged the club to make a move for Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford, claiming such a signing would represent a ‘statement of ambition’.
Rashford managed just eight goals in all competitions across an immensely disappointing season for United last term, a severe drop in form which saw him lose his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of this summer’s European Championships.
It comes after Rashford enjoyed his best ever season in front of goal at club level, in which he netted 30 times in 56 appearances, and there have been murmurings that the 26-year-old could be tempted by a fresh challenge ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Paris Saint-Germain have been credited with a strong interest in Rashford’s services as they look to fill the void left by Kylian Mbappe and United could allow the forward to leave, with the club reportedly open to offers for the vast majority of their first-team squad.
Arsenal have also been tentatively linked with Rashford in recent weeks, with Mikel Arteta keen to bolster his attacking options, and Sagna believes the Gunners should test United’s resolve for the two-time FA Cup winner this summer.
‘I would love to see Marcus Rashford at Arsenal. I think if you added Rashford to Arsenal’s attack, with the pace that he has, Arsenal would destroy the opposition,’ the former Arsenal, Manchester City and France full-back told CoinPoker.
‘Adding Rashford to an extremely talented squad would be a frightening prospect for Arsenal’s rivals.
Sagna would like to see Rashford and Varane join Arsenal this summer (Picture: Getty)
‘Rashford is so quick. I think Arsenal having Rashford would enable Arsenal to have more variety in attack and I would love to see Gabriel Jesus and Marcus Rashford in the same team, pressing with so much intensity.
‘It would be a brilliant capture and I think there is room in the squad for a player of Rashford’s ability because Gabriel Jesus won’t be able to play every game and Kai Havertz can also play in a number of roles.
‘Rashford joining Arsenal would be a wonderful signing for the club and a real statement of ambition.’
Rashford managed just eight goals in all competitions for the Red Devils this term (Picture: Getty)
Sagna feels fans have been overly ‘harsh’ on Rashford and is confident the United man has the ‘ability’ to be among the finest players on the planet.
Asked whether Arteta could unlock Rashford’s true potential, Sagna replied: ‘I think Rashford has had some personal issues; his mum spoke out about it.
‘There is no doubt that Marcus Rashford is a fantastic player. People have been too harsh on him. Sometimes people need to remember that footballers are human and can be affected by events off the field and in their personal lives.
‘Everyone that watches football would say that Rashford hasn’t been at his devastating best this season. We can all see the quality, the potential. He has the ability to be one of the best players in the world.
‘This season has been a challenge for him. Mentally, he hasn’t been at his best, but when that happens you need support and a good environment to bring you back to your best level. You need your team-mates and your manager to lift you up. You need people to believe in you. The vibe at Manchester United hasn’t been good this season.
‘When analysing a player’s performance, you need to look at the bigger picture, and there have been a lot of reported problems at the club. There were a lot of unhappy players, and the training ground wasn’t a happy place. When things go wrong at football clubs, they can be hard to fix.
‘Manchester United had a really difficult season, but they still managed to win the FA Cup.
‘Rashford is young. I think he will get on well with the other players in Arsenal’s squad. I think he could have amazing chemistry with Gabriel Jesus. I can see those two players clicking, pushing each other, and respecting each other. I think they could complement each other really well.’
Varane leaves United this summer (Picture: Getty)
One player definitely on his way out of Old Trafford this summer is Raphael Varane, with the 31-year-old centre-back bidding farewell to United upon the expiration of his contract.
According to Sagna, Varane would be a ‘brilliant signing’ for Arsenal, providing ‘perfect cover’ for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of Arteta’s defence.
‘Of course, Raphael Varane would be a good addition for a leading Premier League club because he’s a top player. He has such a wealth of experience and has won so many trophies during his career.
‘I played with him for France. He is a fantastic player with a lot left to offer because he is only 31 years old.
‘I actually think he would be a brilliant signing for Arsenal. Varane would be a perfect fit for the vibe of the club because of his winning mentality and personality. He would get on really well with the players in Arsenal’s squad because he is a great player and a great man.
‘I saw him a couple of days ago at the Champions League final and he was in great spirits. He is a football lover before anything, and he still has that desire and competitiveness to play at the top level for a few more seasons.
‘As an addition to the Arsenal squad, I think he would be perfect. He would be perfect cover for either William Saliba or Gabriel and could step into the team when either of those players needed a rest or if they were to get injured.
‘Arsenal need some more quality in reserve in central defence and Varane would be a wonderful addition.’
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