Arsenal have had their first bid for Leicester City and England Under-19 winger Jeremy Monga rejected – the 19-year-old one of the club's long-term targets for the summer, according to the Telegraph.
The rejection comes just days after Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions last month, and only a fortnight after their Champions League final defeat. Fifteen Gunners stars have already joined up with their national teams for the ongoing World Cup 2026, which concludes on July 19. But back in north London, manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are pressing ahead with plans to spend around £250million again this summer, targeting a midfielder, a winger and potentially another forward.
“Arsenal's first bid for Jeremy Monga rejected; they prepare Barcola bid and sign teenage goalkeeper Blayney.”
Arsenal are reportedly preparing a bid for Paris St-Germain and France winger Bradley Barcola, 23, who recently scored on his World Cup debut for France. The Independent reports that Arsenal are now looking into the necessary details before lodging an official bid for the winger. PSG’s preference would be to keep the attacker but they are also open to selling him and reshaping their attack. Barcola has been reported elsewhere to cost anywhere between £60million and £105m.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have hijacked Liverpool’s pursuit of teenage goalkeeper Phoenix Blayney. The 15-year-old was signed from Northern Irish side Larne after impressing during his trial with Arsenal. Blayney chose Arsenal despite also being offered a contract by Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. His father, Alan Blayney, told the Belfast Telegraph: "Everything has been agreed with Arsenal, he just needs to sign the contract. When he's 17, he will sign a professional contract. It's done and dusted and a pre-contract will be signed when the time is right." Phoenix can put pen to paper on professional terms when he turns 17 in November 2027.
Elsewhere in the transfer market, RB Leipzig have made contact with Everton over 23-year-old France Under-21 striker Thierno Barry. The Toffees are yet to receive a formal offer for Barry, but if a bid arrives from German side RB Leipzig or any other club, Everton's football leadership group will decide how to proceed, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Arsenal will return to official club action on August 16, when they face Manchester City in the Community Shield.