Jermaine Jenas Says Arsenal Should Hijack Tottenham’s Move for Sandro Tonali and Sign Marcus Rashford

Jermaine Jenas thinks Arsenal could swipe Sandro Tonali right out from under Tottenham’s nose this summer. And while he’s at it, he reckons the Gunners should go get Marcus Rashford too.

The former Spurs midfielder, speaking to 10bet, made it clear he believes Tonali is a legit upgrade for Arsenal’s midfield. That’s a direct shot at Martin Zubimendi, whose form faded down the stretch last season. Jenas said Zubimendi is decent but solid, and that Tonali would bring a whole different level alongside Declan Rice.

“He’s a dictator of a game,” Jenas said. “He sets the pace and sets the tone every time he plays. He did the same when he was at AC Milan.”

There’s just one catch. Tottenham already had an £80 million bid rejected for Tonali by Newcastle, who are trying to avoid getting dragged into another relegation fight. If Arsenal wants him, they’ll have to outbid Spurs. And that’s not a given.

But Jenas isn’t totally convinced this is where Arsenal should be spending their money. He pointed out that Myles Lewis-Skelly is a young option who can step into midfield. He said Tonali is a great player and it would be a good move, but he’s not sure it’s what the team desperately needs.

“I still think they need a proper, out-and-out striker and a specialist on that left wing,” Jenas said.

That’s where Rashford comes in. Rashford is currently at Barcelona after leaving Manchester United, and Jenas thinks he should stay gone. He argued that bringing Rashford back to United would be complicated, even with Michael Carrick now in charge. Carrick played with Rashford, so there’s a connection. But Jenas said Rashford has experienced Barcelona and it’s probably better for him to leave England entirely or find a fresh start somewhere else.

“I don’t think he should just go back to United to sit on the bench,” Jenas said. “I just think there comes a point where you have to move on.”

Whether Arsenal actually makes a play for either player is still up in the air. Tottenham’s offer for Tonali was rejected, but that doesn’t mean the door is closed. And Rashford’s situation at Barcelona could shift depending on how the summer window shakes out. But Jenas has put the idea out there. And in north London, that kind of talk never stays quiet for long.