Why £116m star is the dream Trossard replacement

After the Champions League final, several Arsenal players will have left Budapest with the realisation that it was their final game in the famous red and white.

While the Gunners do not need a mass overhaul, it is now time for Mikel Arteta and Co to elevate the ceiling of this squad, to take it to new heights.

In midfield, it would be a surprise to see Christian Norgaard play for Arsenal again and Ben White may have also played his final game for the north Londoners.

The biggest transformation could take place on the flanks. Amid interest in Morgan Rogers and Christos Tzolis, Gabriel Martinelli’s future is up in the air, as is Leandro Trossard‘s.

Why Arsenal are set to sell Leandro Trossard

It is safe to say that Trossard has been one of the best signings in Arsenal’s modern history. A cult hero, the Belgian arrived in a mere £27m deal from Brighton but has repaid that transfer fee in spades.

He has been the definition of clutch, popping up on countless occasions to save the Gunners.

In 2023/24, his best season under Arteta’s stewardship saw him score 17 goals in all competitions and a host of them were vitally important strikes.

He bagged a late equaliser to rescue a point against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, scored versus Liverpool, scored again against Chelsea and netted versus Manchester United.

Not just a threat on the domestic stage, he starred in Europe, scoring at a crucial time against Porto in the knock-out stages of the Champions League and firing home an equaliser with 14 minutes left of their quarter-final first leg with Bayern Munich.

Since then, his powers have begun to wane. In 2026, the winger has struggled big time. He has only scored one goal at club level this calendar year, albeit it was a huge one in the title race.

It is typical that his precious winner against West Ham looks set to be his final goal for Arsenal. It was vintage Trossard, popping up when it mattered most.

Aged 31, now feels like the right time to move him on and invest in a younger upgrade, particularly after his performances this year. Reports suggest that Besiktas have agreed a £17m deal with Arsenal to sign him this summer. That’s not bad at all for a player of his age and status.

So, how will they replace him?

How Arsenal can replace Leandro Trossard

The number one target for Andrea Berta and Co this summer is Aston Villa’s Rogers. However, valued at £130m by his club, this move is becoming more and more unlikely as the days go by.

“I’m not sure I’m worth all of that! Of course it’s nice to hear that from people. But I don’t let outside noise dictate me. I’m just going to keep focused, keep being me, keep being the person that got me here and keep trying to improve.” – Morgan Rogers on his £130m valuation.

As a result of that, Bradley Barcola is becoming the dream alternative for Arsenal. The trouble is that he will not come cheap either, reportedly valued at around £116m.

However, the latest on both of those players is that they are “very open” to moving to the Emirates Stadium this summer. That’s according to reputable club insider Hand of Arsenal. They note that Berta is working on both deals simultaneously.

So, why would Barcola be the dream Trossard replacement? Well, to put it simply, he’s one of the best wingers in the whole of Europe and has proven as much at the ongoing World Cup, scoring twice and registering an assist during France’s five games.

It’s his form for PSG, however, that has attracted the most attention. In 2025/26, Barcola scored 13 goals and supplied seven assists. Those are impressive numbers but not quite as strong as they were in 2024/25 when he scored 21 and assisted 21 in all competitions.

Compared to Trossard, he’s got more raw pace and he’s a better and more direct dribbler of the ball too. As far as speed is concerned, he’s up there with Martinelli but he’s undeniably more of a threat than either of Arsenal’s options on the left flank.

Last term, the 23-year-old ranked among the best 1% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for big chance involvement. Trossard sat among the best 16%.

He made 1.95 shot-ending carries per 90 minutes to the Belgian’s 1.57 while he’s a great deal more progressive, producing 3.70 progressive carries per 90 to Trossard’s 2.83.

What Arsenal need on the left is not just a maverick, something Barcola very much is, but a player with consistent end product. The fact is that neither Trossard or Martinelli have been able to offer that over the last year in particular.