Arsenal hold 'secret' Marcus Rashford meeting as £42m release clause transfer U-turn now possible

Arsenal are just over two weeks away from the opening of the summer transfer window. The Gunners are expected to be one of the busier teams as well, with work to be done across the field.

Mikel Arteta has a strong squad available to him but is likely to trim some of the outsiders to his preferred core that have had extremely limited opportunities in the past two years. With their exit will come a kitty that allows for more investment in key positions.

Despite going a step further than last season, there are upgrades required in certain areas that the club hopes will help cut the gap to Manchester City yet again, if not reduce it altogether. It certainly promises to be an entertaining ride.

Here, football.london brings you the latest from around the market ahead of the window kicking off in mid-June.

Marcus Rashford meeting

It has been reported online that Mikel Arteta has met with Marcus Rashford in recent weeks about a possible move to Arsenal, one of many topics discussed. Both parties are said to be open to the prospect of a deal being done.

It is not the first time that Rashford has been linked with the Gunners, either. He has long been a rumoured player of interest, and even a new long-term contract last summer has failed to see things around his future quieten down.

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Rashford is on over £300,000 per week at Old Trafford and has four years left on his deal. A poor season at his boyhood club and the potential for yet another managerial change has left his future up in the air, with a section of the United fanbase fed up with the striker's inconsistency.

The 26-year-old only managed seven league goals in 2023/24, despite coming off the back of getting 30 last year. It has seen his stock plummet over the past six months, as well as his international career halt.

football.london says: There is still an allure in Rashford even with his performance levels not being at his usual standard. He is the perfect age for a forward to be hitting full stride yet still room for improvement, and as an Englishman would slot in well at Arsenal.

He is versatile enough to play any role that Arteta would want of him, and it is evident just how unstoppable he can be when in the right mood. Arsenal may well be the exact environment to get Rashford back to his best.

A transfer like this between United and Arsenal feels unlikely at this stage though. Any new manager is surely going to make him central to plans this summer, at least for a look in, and the price could be a stumbling block as Arsenal try and comply with financial rules.

The Gunners have a lot of business to do this summer and Rashford isn't someone who springs to mind as being a priority deal. That doesn't mean there isn't sense to it.

Vitor Roque U-turn

Arsenal are one of a number of clubs said to be targeting Barcelona attacker Vitor Roque this summer, despite the teenager only moving to Spain in January. Alongside Manchester United and Tottenham, Edu Gaspar is reportedly leading the charge for the Brazilian.

Roque completed his high-profile move from Athletico Paranaense earlier this year for £40million but only scored twice under Xavi as Barcelona put up a meek title defence and were once again plunged into turmoil. His manager never appeared to take too well to his addition, and agent Andre Cury has hit out at the former midfielder.

“Everyone thinks that Vitor Roque has to have more minutes and no one understands why the coach [Xavi] doesn’t give them to him," Cury said.

“Xavi never spoke to the player. I do not understand this situation and I think it is not good for either party. I have told the boy that what he has to do is work even harder and wait for the opportunity, but I have also seen matches to give him minutes and prominence and thus avoid this unpleasant situation."

football.london says: When Roque left South America he was being spoken about as a player comparable to Endrick. His initial time at Barcelona has been far from ideal though.

Perhaps only a club as crazily run as the Catalan giants would ever consider selling a 19-year-old six months into a seven-year deal, but predicting their decisions is as hard as it gets. If Roque is truly available then Arsenal would be right to be in the mix again.

They have a contingent of Brazilians - though the long-term future of Gabriel Jesus is unclear - and wish to bring in the best young talent in the world. If managed carefully there would be an ideal structure around Roque to help him develop, and for what could be a cut price given his struggles and reported £42million release clause, it feels like a piece of business worth trying.