Arsenal are accelerating their pursuit of attacking reinforcements this summer, with several high-profile targets now firmly in their sights ahead of next season.
The gap between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain was painfully clear during the Champions League final in Budapest, with PSG’s attack proving the decisive difference on the night.
Mikel Arteta has since identified that moments of individual brilliance can separate success from failure at the highest level, and the club is acting accordingly this summer.
Bradley Barcola is one name under serious consideration, with reports confirming Arsenal are preparing a bid for the PSG and France winger following his starring role in club and international football.
However, Barcola is not even Arsenal’s primary target, with England international Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa identified as the number one attacking priority this window.
Club-to-club discussions between Arsenal and Aston Villa are already underway, and Rogers himself has reportedly signalled that he is keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium.
A cheaper option in the shape of Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis is also on the radar, with the winger said to be particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of joining Arsenal.
Beyond winger targets, sporting director Andrea Berta and his team are also weighing up a move for a new striker, with Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez emerging as a serious option.
Alvarez, valued at around £130m, had a bid of that figure from Real Madrid firmly rejected by Atletico, who even mocked their rivals on social media following the failed approach.
Arsenal are now in regular contact with both Atletico Madrid and Alvarez’s representatives, according to TEAMtalk, though the club has not yet committed to making a formal offer.
Berta holds a useful connection in these talks, having been instrumental in the original deal that brought Alvarez from Manchester City to the Spanish capital.
The Argentine forward’s record speaks for itself, having scored 29 goals in all competitions during his debut season with Atletico in 2024/25, earning the description of a “monster” from Argentine journalist Pablo Gonzalez.
Last season Alvarez found the net on 20 occasions, demonstrating the consistency that has made him one of the most coveted strikers in European football.
Arsenal’s need for a top-level centre-forward has long been debated, and Alvarez is seen as representing the best qualities of both Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres in one package.
Gyokeres finished as Arsenal’s top scorer in 2025/26 with 21 goals but has drawn criticism for his link-up play, ranking among the worst 10% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for successful dribbles.
Havertz, meanwhile, excels at dropping deep and bringing teammates into play, which is precisely why Arteta selected him for the Champions League final over Gyokeres.
Alvarez’s ability to both score prolifically and create for others sets him apart, with the former City man registering as many as 13 assists in a single campaign during his time in England.
His existing familiarity with English football is viewed as a major advantage, with Arteta known to place significant value on Premier League experience when assessing targets.
Left wing remains the most urgent position to address following another inconsistent season from Leandro Trossard, who failed to score in 25 consecutive games before netting the winner against West Ham.
Gabriel Martinelli also struggled, registering only one Premier League goal from his total of 11 strikes across all competitions, underlining why a world-class wide addition is non-negotiable this summer.