Bradley Barcola: Arsenal retain an interest in Paris Saint-Germain forward after missing out on Morgan Rogers to Chelsea
Arsenal missed out on signing Morgan Rogers after the Aston Villa forward moved to Chelsea for a record £117m; Andrea Berta has a special way of dealing with transfer targets - and lines up three or four targets for each position; Bradley Barcola could leave PSG this summer
Wednesday 22 July 2026 19:33, UK
Arsenal retain an interest in Bradley Barcola after missing out on Morgan Rogers to Chelsea, according to Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
The Gunners are looking at alternative options to bolster their attack after their top transfer target Rogers joined Chelsea from Aston Villa in £117m deal - which is a new record for a British player.
Sky Sports News reported earlier this summer that Paris Saint-Germain could allow Barcola to leave if the right offer comes in.
"Barcola is someone to look out for," Sheth told a special Sky Sports podcast analysing Arsenal's transfer window so far.
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"PSG are very, very interested in Yan Diomande and are trying to get a deal done for him to strengthen that attack."
A potential move for RB Leipzig's Diomande may push Barcola closer to an exit. The 23-year-old has also been linked with Liverpool and scored three goals in eight games for France at the World Cup.
"If you go back to last season, in PSG's biggest games - the Champions League quarter-finals with Liverpool, the semi-finals against Bayern Munich and the final against Arsenal in Budapest - Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue started all of them," Sheth added.
"Barcola was the odd man out. Firstly, is he going to be happy to do that again next season? Secondly, if Diomande turns up as well, where does Barcola find himself on the pecking order?
"It seems to be a very good fit if Arsenal bring in someone like Barcola."
Missing out on Rogers leaves Arsenal with work to do to sign a marquee forward, but they have agreed a £34m fee with Club Brugge to sign winger Christos Tzolis, who is expected to act as a replacement for the departed Leandro Trossard.
Meanwhile, sporting director Andrea Berta continues to operate with his unique approach to dealing with transfer targets.
"If you look at how Arsenal been doing their business since Berta came in, it isn't: 'We're going to focus on one player and that's it.' It's too risky a strategy," added Sheth.
"So, what they try and do is work on three or four targets in each position that they're looking to recruit in.
"They will try and get their ducks in a row with all four players, get as far down the line with deals with all four players.
"And then they take a step back and say: 'What is the best value on the pitch, off the pitch?'
"Then they will have a further discussion with Mikel Arteta, with everyone who's involved in the recruitment, and decide which player to go for.
"Rogers was the number one target and they've missed out on him. Yes, it's a bit of a blow. But they clearly weren't prepared to go in with £117m for him. It doesn't mean the window is a write-off.
"They will have got other deals in the background that they are looking at. That is what they will revert to."
