David Seaman has backed Mikel Arteta to bring one of England’s World Cup stars to Arsenal this summer.
After topping Group L with seven points from a possible nine, Thomas Tuchel’s side play what they hope will be the first of several knockout games on Wednesday evening.
England’s last-32 opponents DR Congo finished third in Group K after beating Uzbekistan, drawing with Portugal and losing to Colombia.
Marcus Rashford looks set to have a key role to play for England in the knockout stages after a bright start to the World Cup.
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The 28-year-old Manchester United forward, who spent last season on loan at Barcelona, scored in England’s World Cup opener and was one of the more influential players in the win over Panama last time out.
While Rashford’s immediate focus is on England’s World Cup campaign, he will also have one eye on the summer transfer window amid huge uncertainty over his future.
The talented winger was hoping to earn a permanent move to Barcelona after helping Hansi Flick’s side win La Liga and go deep in Europe last season.
But the Spanish giants opted not to activate a £26m clause to keep Rashford at the Nou Camp after signing his England teammate Anthony Gordon in a £70m deal from Newcastle United.
Rashford will still be on the move this summer, however, as Manchester United are not planning to integrate him into Michael Carrick’s squad.
His next destination remains far from clear but several domestic and foreign clubs have expressed interest in signing Rashford.
New Premier League champions Arsenal have even been linked with the Old Trafford academy graduate and club legend Seaman would be supportive of his arrival at the Emirates Stadium.
‘I would like that move because I still think Marcus Rashford has got a lot to offer,’ Seaman said on The Good, The Bad & The Football. ‘He’s still very dangerous when he’s on it.
‘But then, straight away, my head then goes, “Who’s he gonna replace?” We’ve got [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Leandro] Trossard.
‘If they sign Rashford, they’re probably going to get rid of one of those two. But he is a real talent.’
Manchester United hero Nicky Butt has also backed Arsenal to sign Rashford, who is available for £40m to clubs other than local rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
‘The only thing I worry about with Marcus is his attitude and at Arsenal he’s going to have to be part of a team,’ Butt said.
‘He’s going to have to work his b*****s off. When he knew he was leaving Manchester United he didn’t bother his a***.
‘For England, he could be our closest thing to [France superstar Kylian] Mbappe, but I think his body language doesn’t help. I don’t think he can’t be arsed but it looks that way sometimes.
‘But in terms of Arsenal signing him, I would do that all day long if I was in their shoes.’
Rashford is reluctant to join another Premier League club so could push for a move abroad after attracting interest from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
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