Ben Jacobs Shares What He Is Hearing About Barcola to Arsenal Transfer

The transfer talk around Arsenal in the transfer window is just starting to gather pace, after a quiet start to the summer.

Naturally, after a season in which they won their first Premier League title in 22 years, people at the club have been enjoying the moment, while their big-name players have gone out to the 2026 World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico.

Mikel Arteta will have enjoyed a well-deserved holiday, but the work on improving the Gunners squad for another tilt at the Premier League title is beginning in earnest.

One of the big players who has been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer is Bradley Barcola, with the Gunners keen to strengthen their forward line. And there have been reports that the Gunners are preparing an opening offer for the 23-year-old.

It is as yet unknown what will happen with the likes of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli this summer, with the Gunners willing to listen to offers for both of them. Both departing would leave them short on the left-hand side of their frontline and that is where Barcola comes in.

Barcola played an important role for Paris Saint-Germain as they won the Ligue Un and Champions League double last season - the Champions League at the expense of Arsenal in the final.

He scored 13 goals and laid on seven assists in 49 appearances in all competitions, although he only started 21 of the club's 34 league matches.

He came off the bench to score for France in their World Cup opening victory over Senegal, proving his prowess and perhaps adding some figures on to his price tag. Not that PSG want to sell.

GIVEMESPORT senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs was asked about the French side's stance on a sale on the Market Madness podcast this week. he said: "When I ask PSG sources, it's 'not for sale' and you're not going to get a different answer from PSG until they potentially add another player."

Jacobs did give Arsenal a boost in their hopes of signing Barcola though, by also revealing the player's stance on a transfer.

"If things develop and PSG find an attacker, whether left or right, then PSG's perspective with Barcola could change," he said. "I'm told the player is open to leaving PSG because he wants to play regularly, but PSG are more inclined at the moment to see if they can get him to sign improved terms and then if they add a player in his position and they don't get a breakthrough in those contract talks you suddenly get a scenario where they put him on the market.

"Arsenal is a situation that's worth keeping an eye on. I sense with Arsenal that Morgan Rogers is the player that they're likely to prioritise for now, but if Barcola becomes genuinely available on the market, he's on Arsenal's list."

The Gunners are in the market for a midfielder this summer