Arsenal's pursuit of attacking flair reaches boiling point as they weigh up the risks of breaking the bank to sign England star Morgan Rogers - valued at a whopping £130m by Aston Villa. But in a twist of fate, the Gunners are now hot on the heels of PSG winger Bradley Barcola, who has caught their eye with his electrifying performances for France.
Barcola's availability is piqued interest among Arsenal's hierarchy, and they're planning to send scouts to watch him in action against Sweden at the World Cup next Tuesday. The 23-year-old's contract situation is music to their ears - it's set to expire in 2028, leaving the door ajar for a potential transfer that won't put a massive dent in their wallet.
The writing's on the wall for Barcola: with RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande reportedly heading to PSG, his place in the team is under threat. That could spell freedom for him to join Arsenal and make an instant impact at the Emirates Stadium.
It seems a transfer merry-go-round is underway as Liverpool also circles Barcola, but one thing's for sure - should PSG come knocking with an offer, Mikel Arteta will be ready to pounce. It's a calculated gamble that reflects Arsenal's new approach: they'll keep their powder dry until the right deal comes along.
And on another front, Arsenal are keeping tabs on Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier - he's out of contract this summer and available for nothing. With Kepa Arrizabalaga's future up in the air, Mikel Arteta knows he needs a reliable deputy to step into the breach when required.