Arsenal's £444m summer wishlist: six transfer targets rated as Gunners weigh attacking overhaul

Arsenal have yet to confirm a senior summer signing beyond making Piero Hincapie’s loan permanent, but the club are actively scouting a shortlist of six players with a combined estimated value of £444m as Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta map out a significant squad overhaul.

A central midfielder, a left winger, a right back and potentially a striker are the priority positions, though the Gunners face a challenging market. Manchester City’s £116m acquisition of Elliot Anderson has helped push asking prices upward, complicating negotiations across the board.

Morgan Rogers — £130m — 7.5/10

Rogers is Arsenal’s primary attacking target. The Gunners are pushing hard for the 23-year-old Aston Villa and England forward, with Fabrizio Romano reporting significant progress on the player’s side. Villa’s £130m valuation — underpinned by years remaining on his contract and Chelsea’s competing interest — is the main obstacle. Arsenal are reportedly optimistic a deal can be structured with add-ons, and there is little doubt Rogers would meaningfully improve their attacking options on the left flank, where the futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard remain uncertain.

Bradley Barcola — £116m — 5/10

Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is on Arteta’s radar, but the 23-year-old is not available for transfer according to The Athletic, and PSG’s valuation exceeds the £116m City paid for Anderson. His performances for France have only increased his market value further. Liverpool’s firm interest compounds the difficulty, and at that price Barcola would not represent the step up on Martinelli Arsenal are seeking, making a deal appear unlikely at this stage.

The wider shortlist

Beyond Rogers and Barcola, Arsenal’s scouting has extended to four additional targets across the positions Arteta wants to address, with the combined valuation of all six reaching £444m. The scale of that figure reflects both the ambition of the club’s planning and the inflationary pressures currently distorting the summer market.

Arsenal’s approach appears to be one of patience — monitoring valuations, assessing competing bids from rival clubs, and waiting for the right moment to move rather than overpaying early in the window. Whether Berta can navigate those conditions and land the priority targets will go a long way to determining whether the Premier League champions can mount a stronger title challenge next season.