Arsenal could strike Rashford swap deal as £45m opportunity arises | Football | Sport

Arsenal could find themselves presented with a chance to broker a complex swap deal that would bring Marcus Rashford to the Emirates Stadium this summer. The Gunners are keen to bolster the left flank of their attack, with Mikel Arteta urging the club’s hierarchy to be ‘very ambitious’ following their Champions League final defeat to PSG.

Several wingers have already been linked with a move to North London, with 11 days remaining until the summer transfer window swings open. Among those names is Manchester United forward Rashford.

The England international, who is currently in Miami with Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the World Cup, has turned heads during his loan spell with Barcelona this season. The La Liga giants hold a reported £26m option-to-buy on Rashford, and the 28-year-old has made no secret of his desire to make the arrangement permanent.

However, Barcelona’s well-documented financial difficulties make such a deal far from straightforward. The Spanish outfit have already splashed £69m on Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and are also seeking to bring in a striker, reports football.london.

Hansi Flick’s men have also been linked with a move for Piero Hincapie, with Arsenal holding a £45m option-to-buy on the Ecuador international. The 24-year-old has caught the eye since arriving in North London, having spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan with the Gunners.

Nevertheless, Arteta’s squad boasts plenty of cover in central defence and at left-back, and they could sell Hincapie this summer and earn a quick profit.

There is also the possibility that Hincapie could be incorporated into a player-plus-cash exchange with Barcelona to secure a deal for Rashford.

This would require Barca to activate their option to sign the England international before shipping him to the Gunners in a bid to reduce the asking price for Hincapie.

Make no mistake, it’s a complicated deal to pull off, but one that remains feasible in principle.

Arsenal are understood to be seeking a left-back this summer, though it remains to be seen whether any potential future move for Hincapie factors into those plans.

The Gunners are also being touted as suitors for Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez, which would represent a genuine statement of intent from the north London club.

“We start to make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level,” Arteta said following the Champions League defeat.

“And we’re going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it’s going to demand to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”