Arsenal is reportedly planning a significant squad refresh, with Sporting Director Andrea Berta overseeing parallel negotiations for several potential signings. The club aims to bring in four to five top-quality players to bolster the team after a successful title-winning season, which has also led to player fatigue impacting pre-season plans.
Two primary targets are Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola and Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers. While Villa has insisted Rogers is not for sale, it is believed a British record fee of approximately £130 million could prompt negotiations. Barcola, whose contract talks with PSG have stalled, is reportedly open to offers from clubs including Arsenal and Liverpool. An Arsenal delegation reportedly attended a recent match to assess Barcola and discuss his plans with his representatives. The potential fee for Barcola is expected to be similar to Rogers' valuation.
Mikel Arteta's side is also looking to strengthen other areas of the squad, with needs identified at striker, left-sided forward, midfield, center back, and goalkeeper. The club has been linked with a move for Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi, though Bournemouth is keen to retain him for their upcoming European campaign, with an asking price of around £90 million. There are also reports of interest in Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, who is reportedly a long-term target, though a fee exceeding £100 million is anticipated. Arsenal has also considered Crysencio Summerville from West Ham, with a reported £50 million valuation.
Several players are also expected to depart the Emirates Stadium. Leandro Trossard has an agreed fee of £17 million with Besiktas, but the Belgian international will reportedly wait until after the World Cup to make a decision on his future. Gabriel Martinelli, with interest from Saudi clubs, and Gabriel Jesus, available for £18-20 million, are also among the players who could be sacrificed to fund new acquisitions.
In defense, Arsenal is exploring options at both full-back and center back positions. Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa has reportedly drawn tentative interest, though a valuation gap exists between the two clubs, with Villa seeking closer to £50 million and Arsenal valuing him around £35 million. Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix has been discussed, but Chelsea is considered a more likely destination. West Ham's Aaron Wan-Bissaka has also been offered as one of several options.
At goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga's potential departure for his £5 million release clause is being considered, with Illan Meslier, now a free agent after leaving Leeds United, reportedly under consideration. The club is also exploring other defensive targets, including Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori, though these moves appear less likely.
Reports of Martin Odegaard's potential departure and his agent speaking with Galatasaray have been dismissed as unfounded. The club's transfer business is expected to be active over the next seven weeks, with fatigue from the World Cup also being factored into pre-season planning. New fitness coaches Jose Jimenez and Antonio Gomes have been hired from Bayer Leverkusen and Braga, respectively, to address player robustness.