Full Breakdown
Arsenal Target a New No.10 as Summer Transfer Window Looms
6/7/2026, 9:18:19 PM
Arsenal’s Quest for a New No.10 After Title Triumph
Following their first Premier League title in 22 years, Arsenal have identified a creative midfielder as a priority for the 2024-25 season. The club’s stated aim is to add a No.10 who can complement the existing attacking unit and sustain the push for domestic and European honours.
Strategic Context: Modelling After PSG
Manager Mikel Arteta has publicly said he wants to incorporate elements of Paris Saint-Germain’s style, after Arsenal’s recent penalty-shoot-out loss to the French side. Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke added that continual evolution is essential because rival clubs are also strengthening.
Target Profiles: Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White
- Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa, England) – 23 years old. In 55 league appearances he recorded 14 goals and 12 assists; overall 26 goal contributions last season, including a goal and an assist in the Europa League final. His contract runs to 2031, and transfer valuations exceed £80 million, with sources suggesting a £100 million offer would likely secure his release.
- Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest, England) – 26 years old. In the 2025/26 campaign he scored 18 goals and supplied seven assists across 53 matches. He missed the England World-Cup squad but remains on Arsenal’s shortlist as a secondary option. His contract runs until June 2028 after a recent extension negotiated by owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Transfer Valuations and Competition
Both players attract interest beyond Arsenal. Paris Saint-Germain is reported to be pursuing Gibbs-White and Rogers, while Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City have also been linked with Rogers. Tottenham and Aston Villa are mentioned as possible destinations for Gibbs-White. Forest’s owner is expected to resist a sale, mirroring Villa’s public stance of “no intention to sell” despite the players’ openness to a move.
Official Statements & Responses
Arteta confirmed his intention to adapt PSG-like individual brilliance into Arsenal’s play, emphasizing the need for “individual action” to decide matches. Kroenke reiterated the club’s commitment to strengthen, noting that “teams around us are going to get better” and that stagnation is unacceptable. Arsenal’s scouting department has reportedly compiled a list of ten potential summer targets, with Rogers and Gibbs-White at the top.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts caution that competing bids from PSG and other Premier League giants could inflate fees beyond Arsenal’s current budget. Villa’s firm refusal to negotiate and Forest’s owner’s willingness to retain Gibbs-White add further obstacles. Some observers argue that chasing a £100 million midfielder may limit Arsenal’s ability to reinforce other positions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Rogers’ willingness to leave: certain reports describe him as “open to a switch,” while Villa statements claim the club “has no intention to sell.” Transfer fee estimates also vary, with figures ranging from “well over £80 million” to a definitive “£100 million” benchmark. For Gibbs-White, the extent of PSG’s interest remains unclear, as does the precise amount Forest would accept.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Complete rest, spend good quality time with the family and the kids. Out here now with the missus, so going to enjoy a few days with no kids, have a few drinks and hopefully chill out.” — Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest midfielder
- “The individual action that they have for sure.” — Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager
- “We are going to look to strengthen because we know that teams around us are going to get better. If you are not trying to continually evolve and improve, you are standing still.” — Josh Kroenke, Arsenal co-chair
- “10, the Gunners also want to add a new left winger to their squad.” — Football London
What’s Next
The summer transfer window opens on 1 July. Arsenal are expected to submit formal bids for Rogers and Gibbs-White in the early weeks, while monitoring PSG’s parallel negotiations. Final decisions will hinge on the clubs’ willingness to meet the £100 million price tag and on any counter-offers from rival suitors.
