David Ornstein has given an update on Arsenal's plans to freshen up their attack and confirmed who is at the top of Mikel Arteta's wishlist.
It's been relatively quiet at the Emirates on the recruitment front thus far, although French goalkeeper Ilan Meslier has arrived on a free transfer. With the World Cup coming to a conclusion, you can expect plenty of transfer activity in the coming weeks.
The Gunners will be defending their Premier League title next season, and Arteta seems eager to add a new left-winger to his squad. Leandro Trossard is set to join Turkish giants Besiktas in a £17.2 million deal, paving the way for a replacement to be signed.
Ornstein Reveals Arsenal's Top Target
Aston Villa attacker Morgan Rogers celebrates winning the Europa League final against Freiburgvia Reuters
Two attackers who have been linked with Arsenal since the transfer window opened are Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola and Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers. Both players' futures are uncertain for differing reasons.
PSG are working on a deal to sign RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, and that could jeopardise Barcola's game time. The French winger is enjoying a superb World Cup campaign, but speculation has grown over a potential summer transfer.
Ornstein has downplayed the chances of Barcola, dubbed "incredible", moving while speaking on the latest episode of The Athletic FC Podcast:
"PSG wanted to renew Barcola's contract. It doesn't seem there's any movement on that front. And when you speak to people there, they're of the view: look, he's not for sale; we don't want to sell him; we're not looking to sell him; we don't need to sell him. Of course, you don't know what offers will come in or whether they'll be tempted to change that stance. And yeah, Arsenal appreciate him; so do Liverpool, and I'm sure many other clubs."
Meanwhile, Rogers is open to leaving Villa to join a Premier League title contender, with the Emirates as his preferred destination. The versatile Englishman has been Unai Emery's talisman in recent seasons.
Ornstein claimed that Rogers is Arsenal's top priority:
"All the checks we've made suggest that Rogers is the top target. We're not aware of offers or it being a sort of close situation, and Aston Villa have sort of been quite clear they're not looking to sell him, and if they were, the valuation would sort of be in excess of what Manchester City have just paid Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson, 116 million pounds."
Rogers is currently busy representing England at the World Cup where most of his appearances have been off the bench. He came into the tournament off the back of a sensational season, scoring 14 goals and providing 12 assists in 55 games across competitions.
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Barcola is Arsenal's Solution
Bradley Barcola (France)Gonzalo Fuentes via Reuters
While PSG seem intent on keeping Barcola, there's no harm in Arsenal testing the waters for a player who racked up 13 goals and 7 assists in 49 games last season. He fits the profile that the Gunners require: a pacey winger who gives his team width.
Rogers, who reportedly could cost £130m, is undoubtedly one of the most talented players in the Premier League but his best work comes centrally. Unless Arteta is pondering Martin Odegaard's long-term future, it's somewhat surprising to see the club make him their top target.
Arsenal signed Eberechi Eze only last summer, and there are similarities between the English compatriots. The North Londoners are thought to believe Rogers has the attributes to fit Arteta's system, but Barcola is the one they should be going all out for.
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