Arsenal's summer transfer business has yet to hit top gear as preparations continue for the defence of their first Premier League title in 22 years. The only senior addition to Mikel Arteta's squad so far is Ecuador international Piero Hincapie, who completed a £34.5million move from Bayer Leverkusen after a successful loan spell last season.
Pre-Season Preparations and Transfer Budget
With the first wave of players due back at the Sobha Realty Training Centre next week for pre-season, activity is expected to accelerate. Several arrivals and departures are anticipated over the coming weeks as sporting director Andrea Berta looks to make the most of a reported £250m transfer budget.
A new left winger and central midfielder remain Arsenal's priority targets as Arteta aims to go back-to-back in the Premier League and progress further in the Champions League. The Gunners have been linked with Morgan Rogers, Rafael Leao, Bruno Guimaraes, and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Bradley Barcola Sent Transfer Instruction
With Leandro Trossard expected to depart for Besiktas and Gabriel Martinelli managing just one league goal last season, Arsenal are firmly in the market for a new left-winger. Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola is a major target. The 23-year-old, currently representing France at the FIFA World Cup, reportedly informed PSG of his desire to leave earlier this month.
However, Arsenal's hopes appear dented after French legend Marcel Desailly urged Barcola to stay put. Speaking to Sportcasting, the former Chelsea defender said: "Barcola doesn't need to leave PSG. He's too young. He's only 23 years old. Didier Deschamps is teaching him a lesson, and he's giving him a chance."
Desailly added: "He's young – the attention and defensive alertness isn't there to match the speed he projects when he's going forward. He wasn't making the effort to get back into position. So he's growing, he's learning and he's getting that winning mentality on both sides of the game – being available for the team structurally without the ball while also being the one who makes the difference, just as the older players are doing."
He concluded: "So, should he move to the Premier League? Not yet. Not yet at all. Sorry, Arsenal and Liverpool fans. He should stay at PSG, play 25 games a season and grow within that system."
Gunners 'Agree Personal Terms' with Target
Arteta's pursuit of a new central midfielder has been boosted after reports claim Arsenal have agreed personal terms with France team-mate Manu Kone. According to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Arsenal have held talks with the 25-year-old and agreed personal terms ahead of a proposed move after the World Cup.
Kone has impressed for France this summer in place of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni and would likely command a fee in the region of £43m from current club Roma. France boss Didier Deschamps praised the former Borussia Monchengladbach star, saying: "I repeat, Manu Kone is underrated. He's coming off a very good season with Roma, and he's becoming increasingly important for us with each training session. He's very effective at winning the ball back, but he shouldn't be limited to that role of defensive midfielder because he also makes a difference in his use of the ball."
