Swap deals are incredibly rare in English football.
Most transfers are straightforward: one club pays a fee and another agrees to sell. Every now and then, however, two teams attempt something a little more creative.
Arsenal know that better than most. One of the most memorable deals in the club’s recent history saw Alexis Sanchez head to Manchester United while Henrikh Mkhitaryan moved in the opposite direction.
That transfer turned into a disaster for everyone involved, but Arsenal and United could be tempted to try something similar again this summer with Gabriel Martinelli and Marcus Rashford.
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Arsenal and Manchester United could swap Gabriel Martinelli and Marcus Rashford
There is growing uncertainty surrounding the futures of several Arsenal attackers.
Leandro Trossard continues to attract interest from clubs across Europe, while Gabriel Martinelli has been linked with a number of potential suitors as well.
At the same time, Manchester United are desperately trying to find a permanent solution for Rashford after Barcelona reportedly decided against activating their option to buy him.
That has led to an intriguing claim.
The Sun (live blog, June 6, 2026, 6:00 pm) have suggested that Arsenal could potentially explore using Martinelli as part of a deal to bring Rashford to the Emirates if the Brazilian leaves North London this summer.
Such a move would inevitably draw comparisons to the Sanchez-Mkhitaryan swap that took place between the two clubs in January 2018.
There are a few interesting subplots too.
Rashford remains available after his proposed Barcelona stay failed to become permanent, while Martinelli has an unusual connection to Manchester United, having spent time on trial with the club several years before eventually joining Arsenal.
Whether a direct swap is realistic remains to be seen.
However, with both players facing uncertain futures at their respective clubs, the idea has at least been put on the table.
What’s the first thing you would say if Arsenal and Manchester United swapped Gabriel Martinelli and Marcus Rashford?
Swapping Gabriel Martinelli for Marcus Rashford would be a disaster for Arsenal
The Sanchez-Mkhitaryan deal should serve as a warning to everyone involved. Neither club got what they wanted, and both players struggled badly after making the move.
This proposed swap feels even riskier from Arsenal’s perspective.
Martinelli has not always been at his best over the last two seasons, but he is still only 24 years old and possesses the attributes needed to become a superstar in the right system. His pace, work rate and ability to attack space remain incredibly valuable.
Rashford, meanwhile, is one of the most inconsistent elite players of his generation. On his day, he is outstanding, but those days have become far too infrequent.
Arsenal have already seen how signings such as Willian and Raheem Sterling worked out when experienced attackers arrived carrying question marks.
Martinelli may not be the finished article, but Arsenal would be taking a huge gamble by exchanging him for Rashford. If this deal is ever presented as a serious possibility, the Gunners should stay as far away from it as possible.
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