Arsenal are facing a tough ask in their pursuit of Real Sociedad winger Ander Barrenetxea, with the Spanish club refusing to lower their £65million asking price.
Sporting director Andrea Berta has been actively shaping Arsenal’s summer transfer plans, identifying multiple targets to reshape the club’s attacking options.
The Gunners, who won the Premier League last season before losing the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain, are eager to strengthen further.
Josh Kroenke has already promised that Arsenal will add to their squad regardless of what they win, and the club is now beginning to act on that commitment.
Barrenetxea, 24, scored four goals and registered five assists across 30 LaLiga appearances this season before a late-season injury ended his hopes of featuring at the World Cup with Spain.
The Real Sociedad forward had made his international debut for Luis de la Fuente’s side in March, making his absence from the tournament all the more frustrating.
Berta is also exploring moves for Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Club Bruges forward Christos Tzolis as Arsenal potentially look to sign two left wingers this summer.
That need is driven by uncertainty over Leandro Trossard, who is in the final year of his contract and has been linked with clubs in Turkey, and Gabriel Martinelli, who is said to be keen to explore a move abroad.
Arsenal have also identified Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers as their primary transfer target, with Mikel Arteta viewing the England midfielder as a potential game-changer for his side’s attacking options.
Rogers scored ten goals and claimed six assists in the Premier League last season and played a key role in Villa’s Europa League success, making him one of the most sought-after players in English football.
The 23-year-old is currently representing England at the World Cup and has done his best to play down the speculation linking him with a move away from Villa Park.
“I think the first time it ever happened it was,” he told The Rest is Football podcast when asked if transfer rumours had ever affected his game to the point of becoming a distraction.
“You’re in an uncomfortable spot of not realising that people have so much interest in you and you’re not quite realising that.”
Rogers added that maturity has helped him manage the noise surrounding his future, insisting that the vast majority of speculation should simply be ignored.
“But as you get older and gain experience along the way, you know that comes with it and 95 per cent of it is just noise,” he said.
“You hear it, of course you do. You can’t help not [hearing it]. You know it’s there, but you’ve got to use it in a positive way. You just try and get on with your game and just focus.”
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