Berta making it his goal to sign Arsenal target £87m

Only a cruel lottery of penalties denied what would have been Arsenal’s crowning moment in Budapest, with the Gunners very close to eclipsing the great ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003/04.

It wasn’t going to be that night, but there is no sense now of needing to tear things up and start again, with the careful planning and patience that got the Gunners to this point will continue this summer.

It took three years, and many windows, for example, for the north London side to finally invest in a marquee centre, which has a similar shape now from the left side.

Not since the arrival of Leandro Trossard in January 2023 has that door been strengthened, however with the Belgian’s future still in doubt, reinforcements seem inevitable.

Arsenal are in ongoing talks to sign the £87m winger after Tzolis

Trossard, who is often ‘clutch’ at the Emirates, could be Besiktas or Bournemouth bound by all accounts, with Mikel Arteta lining up to replace Christos Tzolis.

Available for around £35m, the Greek midfielder won’t break the bank or influence other high-profile additions to the side, which could raise the floor but not the ceiling in north London.

Of course, while Tzolis is the hot topic at the moment, it seems that work is still on in terms of continuity, with Arsenal insiders giving the latest on the club’s pursuit of Bradley Barcola.

According to the report, Andrea Berta has been in ‘regular contact’ with the player’s agent for some time now, with the Gunners first making inquiries last summer.

It seems that Berta has made it clear that the Premier League champions have a “big” interest in the Frenchman, and want to be informed if Paris Saint-Germain decide to sell this summer.

Arsenal will not be alone in their interest, however, with top-flight rivals Liverpool also in the mix for an estimated £87m.

How Bradley Barcola compares to Tzolis

For a reported fee of around £35m, landing Tzolis seems like a no-brainer, with the 24-year-old having just racked up 40 goals and assists in the Belgian Pro League last season.

Previously overlooked at Norwich City, making just 30 appearances between 2021 and 2024, the pedestrian forward is thriving at Brugge, boasting goal involvements in each of the past two campaigns.

However, Barcola – arguably “one of the best LWs in Europe” in the opinion of commentator and Como scout, Ben Mattinson – appears to be at his best, having already proven himself in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Arsenal saw first-hand the 23-year-old’s devastating speed and agility in that contest in Budapest, with the PSG substitute heading into the side-netting after bursting in late on.

The final product was lacking at the time, as it followed the star’s similar run to the final the year before, but there is a lot to like about the former Lyon star.

Indeed, he has made 152 appearances at the Parc des Princes, scoring and assisting 76 goals in that time, after scoring 19 goals and assisting in 47 games for his former employers.

Barcola registered a remarkable 42 goals and assists in 2024/25 in all competitions, including seven goals and assists as Luis Enrique’s side claimed Champions League glory.

His impact has been limited this time around, hence the talk of an exit, despite having scored six goals and assisted in 16 Champions League outings, 12 of which have been starts.

In comparison, while Tzolis played only nine games in the competition, he only scored and assisted three goals, as he was also edged by Barcola in terms of effective tackles per game (1.1 vs 0.6) and key passes per game (1.6 vs 1.4).

Barcola has the advantage of competing in the top team, but he is proving himself at the highest level of the game, both domestically and in Europe.

Tzolis’ form in Belgium cannot be overlooked, but it is important to note that he has been operating in Germany’s second division as recently as 2023/24, yet to prove that he truly belongs in that elite group of forwards.

The Greek nation could take Trossard outright, but if Arsenal and Berta want a real marquee development, Barcola could be the man.