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Starred at World Cup
5 Arsenal transfer targets for Mikel Arteta after Morgan Rogers failure wrecks summer plans
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Even after winning the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal still have some work to do to in convincing stars of their greatness. The Gunners have been caught napping in the transfer market many times before and it happened again on July 18, when Chelsea stole a march to agree a €137.6 million deal for Morgan Rogers. The 23-year-old was Arsenal’s top target this summer and regardless of how it might be spun by either club, it represents a bitter blow for Mikel Arteta and his plans this summer.
MORGAN ROGERS
HOW ARSENAL MISSED OUT
The silver lining is that Arsenal are set to seal the signing of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, who scored 22 goals last season. But Arteta has been clear that he wants not one but two new left-sided attackers. With Rogers, he would’ve been versatile enough to play both from the left and as a No. 10, a skillset not many other top attackers can boast.
So, it's back to the drawing board for the Spaniard and sporting director Andrea Berta as they scour the market for a signing that can bolster their options on the left flank. Transfermarkt looks at five stars for the Gunners to potentially sign.
Kenan Yildiz
Market Value
K. Yıldız
Left Winger
€75.00m
Yıldız has been constantly linked to Arsenal across the last few years and would represent an excellent addition for any elite European team. The 21-year-old wasn't able to truly flourish at the World Cup after Türkiye's disappointing display, but his club form has suggested he is destined for the very top.
Yıldız scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists in 47 appearances for the Old Lady to cement his reputation as one of the most exciting emerging talents around. Yıldız only signed a new long-term contract with Juve in February, but their failure to secure Champions League football could force them to consider a sale. Arsenal have indicated they are flush with cash, enough to show serious interest in Rogers, and that could put Yıldız in play for them.
Bradley Barcola
Market Value
B. Barcola
Left Winger
€70.00m
Barcola is a supremely talented footballer, blessed with blistering pace and sublime dribbling skills. But the ugly truth is that he's not first-choice at PSG. Luis Enrique has the best left-winger in the world at his disposal in Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Barcola has been reduced to a substitute role in the big games, making an impression in those cameos.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League with Liverpool and Arsenal, but there's no question which opportunity is more attractive at the present. The France international would be a major upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli and looks to have a higher ceiling than the inbound Tzolis. If Barcola can be convinced to leave PSG, it would represent a huge coup for Arsenal – and help their fans forget about Rogers moving to the other part of London.
Antonio Nusa
Market Value
A. Nusa
Left Winger
€32.00m
Arsenal's reported interest in the Norwegian starlet has spiked since his dazzling displays at the World Cup, but the manner in which he caused problems for England's defenders is certainly notable. With a quick turn of pace and ability to shift the ball rapidly onto his right foot, Nusa's explosiveness would be a problem for most full-backs.
The 21-year-old is enormously talented, although he is still yet to find the solution to one problem that has plagued his game: profligacy in front of goal. He didn't hit double figures for RB Leipzig last season and that offers some explanation to why the Bundesliga club would consider offers in the region of €60m for the winger – nearly double his €32m market value. But he showed his near-telepathic relationship with MartinØdegaard, which has to count for something when Arteta decides which player he wants playing in red next season.
Marcus Rashford
Market Value
M. Rashford
Left Winger
€40.00m
Unwanted and likely to be sold by Manchester United, Arsenal could certainly do a lot worse than picking up Rashford for a modest fee. His loan spell at Barcelona confirmed the 28-year-old still possesses qualities of the highest level when he is at his best. Rashford is unafraid to strike from distance and that has been a criticism of Arsenal, given their struggles to score from open play at times last season.
Rashford might not be an automatic starter for Arteta but the England international has the ability to impact games, contributing 28 goals last season (14 goals and 14 assists). His market value of €40m underlines his class – only Ousmane Dembele (€100m), Lautaro Martínez (€85m), Luis Díaz (€70m) and Marcus Thuram €50m) can boast a higher market value of players of his age group. Arsenal should be able to negotiate a deal below that figure, although his estimated €325,000-a-week wages may need to be negotiated if he wants to play for the reigning champions next season.
Nico Williams
Market Value
N. Williams
Left Winger
€40.00m
Two years ago, Williams was one of the hottest properties in world football. Having played a key role in Spain’s triumph at Euro 2024, scoring the opener as La Roja beat England 2-1, Williams has stagnated somewhat and is now looking at a bench role for Sunday's final against Argentina. Things haven't been much better at club level either, with the 24-year-old struggling to inspire a dismal Athletic Club side last season with just six goals and four assists in 25 appearances.
Williams has claimed he doesn't regret choosing to stay at his boyhood club and snubbing Barcelona, who went on to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle. But his Spain career might not take off if he doesn't play regularly in the Champions League. Arsenal can offer that and a lot more, and his dynamic running and clinical finishing is exactly what Arteta needs. That said, Athletic do not sell cheaply and they could be looking at spending nearly the entirety of their Rogers money if they are interested.
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