Barcola Emerges as Arsenal’s Plan B After Villa’s $130M Price Tag on Rogers

Arsenal has shifted its summer transfer focus to Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, with the club increasingly convinced that Aston Villa’s asking price for Morgan Rogers is simply too steep. According to the BBC, Villa’s $130 million valuation of the England international has pushed the Gunners to explore other options.

Barcola, 23, put up 13 goals and 7 assists across 49 appearances last season for PSG. That production, combined with his ability to carve out scoring chances inside the box, has caught Arsenal’s attention. The club sent scouts to watch him during France’s World Cup round-of-32 match against Sweden on Tuesday.

Rogers is still high on Arsenal’s list. But Villa isn’t budging on price, and that’s forced the north London club to look elsewhere. Barcola is now considered one of the leading alternatives on the shortlist.

Why Barcola makes sense for Arsenal

The French winger is still only 23, and he’s already won multiple titles with PSG, including a Champions League trophy. What stands out is his ability to find space in tight defensive setups. His finishing can be erratic — he misses plenty of big chances — but that also means he’s consistently getting into dangerous positions.

PSG won’t make this easy. Barcola’s contract runs through 2028, and the French champions are known for driving hard bargains. But there’s been some encouragement for Arsenal. According to sources, PSG may be open to discussions if the right offer comes in. The club is working on a deal for RB Leipzig attacker Yan Diomande, and that could add competition for places in the PSG forward line. That might open the door for Barcola to leave.

Any deal for Barcola would almost certainly cost less than what Villa wants for Rogers. That’s a key factor for Arsenal, which has other areas of the squad to address this summer.

Goalkeeper search continues

Arsenal is also looking at the goalkeeping market. Kepa Arrizabalaga’s future is uncertain, and the club has identified Leeds United’s Illan Meslier as a serious option. The 26-year-old is available on a free transfer after his contract expired, making him a low-cost solution.

Liverpool is also monitoring Barcola’s situation, which could mean competition for Arsenal if PSG formally makes the player available. But for now, the Gunners are pushing ahead with Barcola as a primary target.