Arsenal encouraged over Marcus Rashford transfer after Barcelona decision

Marcus Rashford has shown glimpses of promise since joining Barcelona on loan from Manchester United but faces an uncertain future at the La Liga side beyond this summer

Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit has encouraged his former club to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. The forward is currently on a season-long loan at Barcelona.

The Catalan giants have an option to sign United's academy graduate on a permanent transfer this summer for £26million (€30m). However, the possibility of Barca activating this clause are understood to have diminished.

Spanish newspaper Marca claim that the La Liga champion's intention to sign Rashford has 'cooled drastically' due to reservations over his displays since the start of the year. The winger has netted just twice in his last 16 outings for Hansi Flick's team, where he has been unable to capitalise on Raphinha's injury-enforced absence in recent games.

And Petit, who won the double with Arsenal in 1997/98, has admitted he would like to see Rashford don the Gunners' shirt. The 1998 World Cup winner has praised Rashford's impact in Catalonia, despite a sluggish calendar year so far for the 28-year-old, who failed to find form during Barca's Champions League quarter-final exit to Atletico Madrid last week.

Speaking via Andy's Bet Club, he said: "I would love to see Marcus Rashford at Arsenal, I think he'd have a big impact. What he has done at Barcelona, after he struggled for two or three seasons, has impressed me.

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"The Rashford we know wasn't there for a while and everyone was criticising him, at Barcelona he has recovered his qualities.

"I was quite surprised that he didn't start in the Champions League second-leg against Atletico, although Raphinha has been very good for Barcelona, too.

"Robert Lewandowski, I was quite surprised that he was sitting on the bench for the two games. But coming back to Rashford, that could be something very good for Arsenal. He has something to prove coming back to England and they need wingers."

United interim head coach Michael Carrick has not ruled out Rashford returning to Old Trafford this summer. Asked on Friday if the door was open for the England international, he said: "I just think there's decisions to be made in time, really, on certain things, and obviously Marcus is in that situation. But at this point in time, nothing's been decided.

"And it will be, because it has to be at a certain point, but at this stage, there's nothing to say."

When asked whether it was a case of never closing doors with players, he added: "Yeah, I'm not going on the Marcus individual one, because I think, like I've already touched on, I think to comment either way at this stage is just not the right thing to do, because there's uncertainties, for sure.

"But for me, as I said, individual players who I'm able to work with in this part of the squad then I enjoy doing that, and trying to get the best out of them."