Arsenal are expected to step up their interest in Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola this week after receiving encouragement that the 23-year-old could be available this summer. The Gunners’ recruitment staff view Barcola as a strong alternative to Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, but recent reports indicate Villa value the England forward at £130m – a stumbling block that makes Barcola a more attainable target.
PSG, however, have set a clear price. The Champions League winners value France international Barcola at more than £116m and maintain their stance that he does not need to be sold, despite interest from both Arsenal and Liverpool. Barcola’s current deal at the Parc des Princes runs until the summer of 2028, meaning any move would cost significantly less than Rogers, whose Villa contract extends to 2031. Representatives of Arsenal, who have tracked Barcola for some time, intend to watch him again in France’s World Cup last-32 match against Sweden on Tuesday night. The potential departure of RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande to PSG could further influence Barcola’s future.
“PSG value Bradley Barcola at £116m; Arsenal see him as alternative to £130m Morgan Rogers.”
Liverpool’s search for a winger has also seen them linked with Lille’s 21-year-old Belgium attacker Matias Fernandez-Pardo. Elsewhere, Everton are confident of making Chelsea winger Tyrique George’s loan permanent, while Chelsea themselves hope to add to their attack by signing Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi. The 20-year-old France Under-21s international scored 13 Premier League goals last season.
In midfield, a cluster of clubs including Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have joined Arsenal in expressing interest in Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, but the French club want at least £70m for the 18-year-old Morocco international and insist on keeping him on loan next season. Tottenham have agreed personal terms with Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and are ready to pay about £100m for the 26-year-old Italian. AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze, who spent last season on loan at Fulham, has turned down Turkish club Trabzonspor as he wants to stay in Milan after the Cottagers opted not to sign him permanently.
Brentford are in talks to sign former West Ham striker Callum Wilson, 34, on a free transfer after his contract expired. Wolves are monitoring Derby County and Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, 27, as a possible replacement for Jose Sa or Sam Johnstone, but face competition from Eintracht Frankfurt and Leeds United. Bolton Wanderers are close to sealing a £700,000 deal for Liverpool midfielder Luca Stephenson, while Portsmouth are set to sign Odin Bailey on a free transfer.
Arsenal, meanwhile, also have a strong interest in Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier. The 26-year-old, out of contract this summer and available on a free, has lost his place as number one at Elland Road, and there is doubt over the future of current second-choice keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga at the Emirates.