Arsenal are in the market to strengthen their attacking resources and are considering alternatives with PSG’s Bradley Barcola on their shortlist after learning of Morgan Rodgers’ price tag
Aston Villa demand British record transfer fee to let Morgan Rogers go (Image: Getty)
Arsenal are monitoring the movements of PSG winger Bradley Barcola after being offered a huge £130m fee for top target Morgan Rodgers.
The Gunners want to strengthen their options in the final third and have set their sights on the England star. Emirates officials believed they were leading the race, but now they’ve learned how much it costs to win the command post.
Villa wanted a transfer fee that exceeded the record fee in English history, paid by Liverpool for Alexander Isak last summer, and as a result had to consider alternatives to Barcora.
Arsenal have expressed an interest in the Frenchman, with the BBC reporting that he will be on the lookout for him when he plays for France in Tuesday night’s World Cup first round match against Sweden.
The 23-year-old was just part of PSG’s side that beat the Gunners in the Champions League final, but his future could depend on whether the Parisians are able to sign RB Leipzig winger Yann Diomande, who has been linked with a big move this summer.
Barcola could be moved down the pecking order if the Ivorian is signed, and if PSG are willing to listen to offers for him, Arsenal would also be keen. The same could be said of Liverpool, who are hoping to replace Mohamed Salah, who has just left Anfield.
Arsenal could ultimately buy a move for Rodgers, who has just enjoyed his best season to date as manager of Europa League-winning Villa. Villa don’t want to lose him and know they will have to pay Middlesbrough, who signed him, 20 per cent of his transfer fee.
Bradley Barcola is on the radar of Arsenal (Image: Dan Mullan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
A number of Premier League clubs have also increased their valuations of players following Elliott Anderson’s £116m move to Manchester City. Villa believe Rodgers is the more valuable player and their price reflects that.
Arsenal are keen to build on last season’s title win, with Mikel Arteta saying: “We will start to make some very important decisions and we want to reach another level.
“They are more than capable of doing that, so we have to show that ambition, but it requires us to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”
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