Arsenal are yet to announce a major summer signing, with Piero Hincapie’s loan deal being made permanent the only notable piece of business completed so far.
Despite the quiet start to the window, there is a growing sense that Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta are carefully mapping out the market before committing to significant deals.
A central midfielder, a left winger, a right back and possibly a striker are understood to be the primary positions Arsenal are targeting this summer.
External factors are already complicating the Gunners’ plans, with Manchester City’s £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson helping to drive up prices across the market.
football.london has assessed six names linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, with their combined estimated transfer fees reaching a staggering £444 million.
Morgan Rogers tops the list at £130 million and earns a rating of 7.5 out of 10, with football.london understanding he is Arsenal’s number one attacking target this summer.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have made good progress on the player’s side, though Aston Villa’s hefty asking price and Chelsea’s competing interest remain significant obstacles.
Arsenal reportedly hope to find a solution that could involve submitting an offer with add-ons, and there is little doubt Rogers would represent a statement signing for the Premier League champions.
Bradley Barcola is rated 5 out of 10 at £116 million, with The Athletic reporting the Paris Saint-Germain winger is not for sale and valued even higher than City’s expenditure on Anderson.
Liverpool’s strong interest in the 23-year-old further reduces Arsenal’s chances, though Barcola’s ongoing reluctance to sign a new PSG deal could yet force the French club to lower their asking price.
Bruno Guimaraes receives the highest rating on the list at 8 out of 10, with an estimated fee of £65 million representing considerably better value than several other targets.
Arsenal made an informal proposal of £45 million for the Newcastle midfielder last week, a figure football.london understands was merely intended to test the waters rather than represent a genuine opening bid.
The Athletic FC podcast reported that Guimaraes is deemed internally at Arsenal as a better fit than Sandro Tonali, who is set to join Tottenham in a deal worth a total of £100 million.
football.london also understands Guimaraes has been of interest to Arteta since the Spaniard took charge in 2020, giving this particular pursuit a notable sense of longevity and genuine intent.
Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is rated 7 out of 10 at £80 million, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that Arsenal recently made a call to Bournemouth, only to be told the 22-year-old would be difficult to sign.
The Cherries do not need the money and are actively offering Scott a new contract, though The Athletic FC podcast confirmed Arsenal are genuine admirers and other leading clubs are also circling.
Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis is rated 7.5 out of 10 at £35 million, with the BBC reporting Arsenal have been offered the 24-year-old Greece international as a potential squad addition.
Tzolis is said to be extremely eager to join Arsenal, and his arrival would not affect the club’s pursuit of Rogers or another primary attacking target later in the window.
Bayer Leverkusen teenager Kerim Alajbegovic rounds out the list at 6 out of 10, with football.london understanding Arsenal have already reached out to his representatives regarding a possible move.
Alajbegovic scored 13 goals for Red Bull Salzburg last season before Leverkusen triggered a £7 million buy-back clause, and Transfermarkt estimate his current value at £18 million.
The post Arsenal’s Six-Man Transfer Wishlist Featuring Morgan Rogers And Bruno Guimaraes Valued At Combined £444m appeared first on Gooner Daily.