Arsenal are being linked with a host of names worth a gargantuan sum of money
Arsenal are yet to announce a new summer signing, with the exception of Piero Hincapie’s loan deal being made permanent.
Yet, there is a feeling that the Gunners are merely biding their time and exploring the market for the best options. A central midfielder, a left winger, a right back and possibly a striker are at the forefront of Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta’s transfer plans, as Arsenal look to push on from a successful season.
Unfortunately for the Premier League champions, there are also some external factors, such as the ongoing World Cup and Manchester City’s £116million signing of Elliot Anderson, which have raised the price of several key targets.
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Now, football.london looks at some of the top names being linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium. By examining their respective estimated transfer fees, their suitability and how likely Berta is to sign them, we give each player on the list – worth a staggering combined total of £444m – a rating out of 10.
Morgan Rogers – £130m – 7.5/10
football.london understands Morgan Rogers is Arsenal’s no.1 attacking target this summer. The Gunners are pushing for a deal as they look for a new attacker to improve their left-hand side, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard’s futures in doubt.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have made good progress on the player’s side. However, Aston Villa’s whopping asking price of £130m, given he has several years still left on his deal, poses a problem.
Chelsea’s interest in the 23-year-old England international may also allow Villa to demand a club-record fee from Arsenal. But the Gunners reportedly hope to find a solution, which may include potentially submitting an offer with add-ons. There is no doubt that Rogers would elevate Arsenal’s attack and, should all parties agree on a reasonable price tag, it would be a statement transfer.
Bradley Barcola – £116m – 5/10
Bradley Barcola is another name that has long been on Arteta’s transfer wish list. But the Paris Saint-Germain forward’s mammoth price tag is another sign of the market being broken this summer.
The Athletic reports the winger is not for sale and PSG value him much higher than the £116m City spent on Anderson. The 23-year-old’s goal-scoring heroics for France also would have raised his value.
While his pace and trickery would serve Arsenal well, Barcola at £116m would not offer as much of an improvement on Martinelli as they would like. That, alongside Liverpool’s strong interest in the player, suggests a deal is unlikely to be struck. However, one curve ball could be Barcola’s ongoing reluctance to sign a new deal, which could force PSG into lowering their asking price.
Bruno Guimaraes – £65m – 8/10
The Gunners had an informal proposal, where they offered £45m for Bruno Guimaraes, turned down by Newcastle last week. However, that figure was merely meant to test the waters.
football.london understands Guimaraes has been of interest to Arteta since the Spaniard took charge in 2020. Meanwhile, The Athletic FC podcast reports that Guimaraes is deemed internally at Arsenal as a better fit than Sandro Tonali, previously linked with Arsenal, to complement Declan Rice in midfield.
Tonali is set to join Tottenham in a deal worth a total of £100m, while Guimaraes is believed to be available for a much more affordable sum of £65m. At such a price, the 28–year-old is both realistic and a quality addition. The only question mark is around his age profile and sell-on value.
Alex Scott – £80m – 7/10
A younger alternative to Guimaraes is Bournemouth’s Alex Scott. Tonali and Anderson’s recent moves have unfortunately skyrocketed the price of other Premier League midfielders, with the Cherries reportedly now demanding £80m for their 22-year-old starlet.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal recently made a call to Bournemouth regarding the player. They were informed he would be difficult to get as the Cherries don’t need money and are offering Scott a new contract, with the possibility of including a release clause.
The Athletic FC podcast claims Arsenal are genuine admirers of the midfielder and suggested other leading clubs are also interested in securing his signature. Scott would represent a costly and difficult deal, but one with plenty of upside.
Christos Tzolis – £35m – 7.5/10
A lesser known name linked with Arsenal is Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis. The BBC reports that the Gunners have been offered Tzolis, who would be a perfect squad addition in the mould of Trossard, should the Belgian be sold.
It’s said that the potential arrival of the Greece international would not affect whether Arsenal pursues a deal for Rogers or an alternative target later in the summer.
The Greece international could be available for around £35m – which would represent a record fee received for a Belgian Pro League player. Tzolis, 24, is said to be extremely eager to join Arsenal’s ranks, giving them an additional advantage as they look to finalise his signing
Kerim Alajbegovic – £18m – 6/10
football.london understands Arsenal have reached out to Kerim Alajbegovic’s representatives to discuss a possible move to north London this summer.
Alajbegovic, who turns 19 in September, scored 13 goals for Red Bull Salzburg last season before he returned to Leverkusen through a £7m buy-back clause. The highly-rated winger signed a five-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen but his future remains far from certain as rival clubs consider moves.
Arsenal should not spend heavily on the teenager, given he still lacks top level experience. Transfermarkt estimate his value at £18m. Should they prioritise the winger, the Gunners could use their good relationship with Leverkusen to their advantage by securing him on the cheap.
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