Mikel Arteta's four-word comment speaks volumes after Marcus Rashford's Man Utd exit door opens

Marcus Rashford is expected to leave Manchester United in January after announcing his intention to leave his boyhood club, with Arsenal a possible destination for the forward

A Marcus Rashford move to Arsenal isn't out of the equation in January if Mikel Arteta's comments are anything to go by.

The Manchester United forward, 27, dropped a bombshell on Tuesday by admitting he wanted a "new challenge", seemingly opening the door for a departure in 2025. A few days earlier, Arteta was asked what his plans for the January transfer window were, and although the Spaniard played down talk of a major splurge, he did hint at a "surprise" arrival or two.

"I never expect January to be super busy but we have to wait and see where we are," the Gunners boss told reporters. "Some surprises can come," he added, declining to rule out any possibility.

Whether that means Arsenal will be testing United's resolve with a bid for Rashford next month remains to be seen, but given their past interest in the England man, it's a situation worth monitoring. The options certainly aren't plentiful for him.

The Sun claim United are now considering letting him leave on loan in January, although they're reluctant to strengthen a Premier League rival. Rashford has over three years remaining on his £315,000 per week contract at Old Trafford, and whether or not potential buyers will be prepared to meet his salary demands is uncertain.

Like Arsenal, PSG have a longstanding interest in Rashford, and are one of few admirers who'd be able to afford such lucrative wages. Arsenal's highest-paid player is Kai Havertz, who reportedly earns £280k per week.

The German is also one of just five Gunners stars currently earning more than £200k per week. This suggests that a move for Rashford may only be feasible if he's willing to accept a wage cut.

However, a loan move to the Emirates Stadium could be structured in a way that maintains his current salary while ensuring Arsenal adhere to their wage structure. An example of this is the deal Arsenal negotiated for Raheem Sterling in the summer.

They brought the winger in on loan from Chelsea, agreeing to split his £325k per week wages down the middle, with Arsenal covering half and Chelsea the other half. Whether United would be open to a similar arrangement, however, is uncertain.

Rashford's comments came after he was sensationally omitted from the squad that faced Manchester City last weekend by manager Ruben Amorim. He was subsequently left out of the Carabao Cup clash with Tottenham on Thursday too, and isn't expected to take part in United's tie with Bournemouth on Sunday either.

The forward has been out of sorts for the past 18 months or so, netting just 15 goals in all competitions since the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign. While he is currently United's second-highest scorer this season with seven goals, his performances have, largely, been well below his best.

Arsenal, meanwhile, aren't in desperate need of a new wide player, but could look to add a little strength in depth in attacking areas, particularly with Sterling and - hat-trick against Crystal Palace on Wednesday aside - Gabriel Jesus both struggling for form, with their lack of firepower proving a problem of late in the league.

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