Arsenal are closing in on a formal move for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, with a first bid believed to be in the region of €80m (£69m) being readied.
According to CaughtOffside, the north Londoners are preparing to make their move for the French international, who has impressed at the ongoing World Cup.
PSG are reported to be holding out for a fee north of €100m (£87m), making negotiations likely to be protracted before any deal is concluded.
Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United are also said to be among the clubs monitoring Barcola’s situation, meaning Arsenal face serious competition for his signature.
Analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson has described the 23-year-old as “one of the best left-wingers in Europe,” a label that will only have been reinforced by his World Cup displays.
Barcola came off the bench for France against Senegal and made an immediate impact, delightfully dinking over Edouard Mendy in a 3-1 win for Les Bleus.
The PSG speedster has had to compete with the talismanic Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for a starting berth at the Parc des Princes, somewhat limiting his opportunities this past season.
Despite that reduced role, he still managed 42 goals and assists across all competitions in the prior campaign, comfortably eclipsing Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, who recorded 30 that same year.
Barcola is a two-time Champions League winner who has scored and assisted 15 goals in 43 games in European competition, demonstrating his quality at the very highest level.
Rogers, by contrast, has played just 12 Champions League games, contributing six goals and assists combined, suggesting Barcola carries considerably greater elite pedigree heading into this transfer window.
Mikel Arteta’s side have long been searching for a genuine, orthodox left-winger, with both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli now looking set to depart the Emirates this summer.
Rogers remains an active target for Arsenal, with Sky Sports reporting that Aston Villa could be open to offers close to £80m, and Manchester United also registering interest.
The 23-year-old Villa man is considered more a natural number ten than a wide left option, which may complicate Arsenal’s thinking about where he fits in Arteta’s system.
Barcola’s statistics per 90 minutes last season significantly outpaced Rogers across categories including non-penalty goals, big chance involvement, progressive carries, and successful dribbles.
With the World Cup serving as the ultimate showcase, Barcola appears to have done little to dampen Arsenal’s enthusiasm, and an opening bid now looks imminent.