Arsenal news: Bradley Barcola sent transfer instruction as personal terms agreed with target

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Arsenal’s summer transfer business has yet to hit top gear as preparations continue for the defence of their first Premier League title in 22 years. The only senior addition to Mikel Arteta ’s squad so far is Ecuador international Piero Hincapie, who put pen to paper on a £34.5million move from Bayer Leverkusen after a successful loan spell last season.

But with the first wave of players due back at the Sobha Realty Training Centre next week for pre-season, activity is expected to accelerate as attention turns to strengthening the squad ahead of the new campaign. Several arrivals and departures are anticipated over the coming weeks as sporting director Andrea Berta looks to make the most of a reported £250m transfer budget.

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A new left winger and central midfielder remain Arsenal ’s priority targets as Arteta looks to go back-to-back in the Premier League and one step further in the Champions League . The Gunners have already been linked with a host of eye-catching names in those positions, including Morgan Rogers , Rafael Leao , Bruno Guimaraes and Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Mirror Football takes a look at the latest developments at the Emirates Stadium.

With Leandro Trossard expected to depart north London for Besiktas and Gabriel Martinelli managing just one league goal last season, Arsenal are firmly in the market for a new left-winger. One of the biggest names linked with a move is Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola.

The 23-year-old, currently representing France in the closing stages of the FIFA World Cup , reportedly informed the French giants earlier this month of his desire to leave. But Arsenal’s hopes of landing the winger appear to have been dented after French legend Marcel Desailly urged Barcola to stay put.

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Speaking to Sportcasting , the former Chelsea defender said: “Barcola doesn’t need to leave PSG . He’s too young. He’s only 23 years old. Didier Deschamps is teaching him a lesson, and he’s giving him a chance.” He added: “He’s young – the attention and defensive alertness isn’t there to match the speed he projects when he’s going forward. He wasn’t making the effort to get back into position.

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“So he’s growing, he’s learning and he’s getting that winning mentality on both sides of the game – being available for the team structurally without the ball while also being the one who makes the difference, just as the older players are doing.

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“So, should he move to the Premier League? Not yet. Not yet at all. Sorry, Arsenal and Liverpool fans. He should stay at PSG, play 25 games a season and grow within that system.”

Arteta’s pursuit of a new central midfielder has been boosted after reports claimed Arsenal have agreed personal terms with one of Barcola’s France team-mates. According to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera , Arsenal have already held talks with French midfielder Manu Kone and agreed personal terms ahead of a proposed move after the World Cup .

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The 25-year-old has impressed for France this summer in place of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni and would likely command a fee in the region of £43m from current club Roma. Arsenal fans have already been given a glimpse of what Kone could bring to the table after national team boss Deschamps lavished praise on the former Borussia Monchengladbach star.

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