Paris Saint-Germain’s sporting director, Luis Campos, has met with Gabriel Martinelli’s representatives, according to a report from L’Équipe published on 18 April 2026. The move shows PSG are serious about signing the Brazilian before the summer window opens.
PSG hold talks with Arsenal’s Martinelli as summer transfer race begins
PSG are looking for fresh blood in attack, and Martinelli has emerged as a genuine target for Luis Enrique’s squad. The 24-year-old, who joined Arsenal from Ituano back in 2019, is now at a point in his career where a big move makes sense, and the meeting with Campos suggests things are moving faster than expected.
Martinelli’s numbers tell a complicated story
Martinelli has made 46 appearances across all competitions this season, contributing 11 goals and six assists. These figures show he is still a regular fixture in the side, even when his form has been up and down. However, the Premier League picture looks considerably more modest. The Brazilian has scored just one league goal in 26 top-flight appearances, though his expected assists output of 0.25 per 90 minutes places him above 91 per cent of Premier League players in that category, suggesting he creates far more than the raw scoreline implies.
His non-penalty expected goals of 0.24 per 90 minutes put him in the top 79th percentile, meaning the finishing has let him down rather than the movement or creativity. His market value, as per Transfermarkt, currently stands at €45 million, a drop of €10 million since May 2025, and his contract runs until 2027 with an option for a further year. Arsenal, who have shown a willingness to listen to offers, face a straightforward calculation: sell now at a reasonable fee, or watch his value continue to erode.
Slot should hurry up as Liverpool are informed of deadline to pay €60m for defender
What do Arsenal stand to gain and lose from this deal?
PSG’s first-choice attacking target this summer remains Julián Álvarez of Atlético Madrid, with Martinelli serving as a fallback option, but that doesn’t mean Campos isn’t serious about the deal. Arsenal need to raise funds from player exits to fund incoming transfers, and this summer looks like their most realistic opportunity to cash in on Martinelli at a meaningful fee.
Arsenal currently sit first in the Premier League table with 70 points from 32 matches, facing Manchester City away on 19 April, a result that could effectively settle the title race. Martinelli wants to win that title before departing, and one can hardly begrudge him that ambition.
Carrick provides big injury update on Red Devils star ahead of Chelsea clash
Yet the honest assessment is this: Arsenal deserve better than a winger scoring once in 26 league games during a title-winning campaign. Letting him leave for a fair fee and investing in a more clinical left winger would be the smarter move, particularly as the club push for sustained Champions League relevance.
