Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have been brilliant at the ongoing World Cup, but it looks likely that the former could depart with his contract expiring next summer.
Martinelli’s deal also concludes in June next year, but there is an option for another 12 months. The 25-year-old is in the prime of his career and could yet stay with a renewal.
Arsenal’s search for a marquee left winger has seen them linked with Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers in recent weeks, but the price could prove prohibitive towards a transfer.
The Villains value the Englishman at a British record £130 million, which is a fee Arsenal are highly unlikely to pay. Barring Villa lowering their demands to £80-90m, the Gunners could pursue an alternative.
In our view, Mikel Arteta’s side must focus on landing Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola, who could be on the move this summer with Les Parisiens’ interest in landing RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande.
Diomande has already given his full priority to the European champions amid interest from Liverpool. The Reds previously made an offer worth £87m to Leipzig, which was quickly turned down.
The Bundesliga outfit are aiming for around £112m for Diomande’s sale, and could hold out for a similar package in order to sanction the winger’s departure to Luis Enrique’s side this summer.
PSG will obviously need to recoup those funds with a big-money sale. Barcola, looks the likely candidate to make way. He is pushing to leave Les Parisiens with his contract expiring in two years.
Premier League rivals Liverpool are also keen on the Frenchman, but they consider him as a right-sided winger to compensate for the surprise departure of Mohamed Salah on a free transfer.
This is where Arsenal could have a clear edge over the Reds. Barcola has played almost two-thirds of his career as a left winger, where he has produced the majority of his goal contributions.
Looking at his PSG stats, he has made over 100 of his 152 appearances as a left winger, making 57 goal contributions. It is quite clear that the Lyon graduate prefers operating in that role.
Liverpool already have Cody Gakpo as a mainstay in that position, while they have just signed Victor Munoz from Osasuna, who is equally adept operating from the left side of attack.
Barcola will have to operate in an uncustomary right wing position at Liverpool compared to Arsenal, where he could be guaranteed a starting spot on the left wing with Trossard poised to depart.
Barcola’s progressive carries, dribbling and chance creation would provide an upgrade over Martinelli. The price tag will most likely be less than Villa’s valuation of Rogers this summer.
With PSG likely to push for a deal for Diomande, they may want to recoup some of the fee (£112m). Barcola’s desire to leave could mean that they could accept £80m-90m for a sale.
This would fall right into the Gunners’ affordability range for a marquee left winger. Arsenal are said to be ‘very interested‘ in Barcola, who has been described as ‘unstoppable‘ by PSG manager Luis Enrique.