Rumours are mounting that Arsenal are weighing up a late swoop to disrupt Liverpool’s advanced pursuit of PSG winger Bradley Barcola, though reports stress the Gunners have not launched a formal bid as things stand.
Liverpool have led the race for the 23-year-old France international, holding positive talks with the player and agreeing personal terms in principle, keen to bring him in to boost attacking options under Andoni Iraola. Barcola has signalled he prefers the Anfield project and will not extend his PSG contract, but a large gap remains between Liverpool’s offer and PSG’s asking price – around €150m/£128m.
With Arsenal recently missing out on Vinicius Jr, speculation has grown they could pivot and test PSG with a rival offer. However, sources state Arsenal are unwilling to meet that top valuation, seeing the figure as too high and valuing the player closer to £90m–£95m. Correspondents add Barcola leans strongly toward Liverpool even if Arsenal enter the race, and personal terms are far more progressed with the Reds.
For now, it remains a transfer rumour: Arsenal are monitoring the situation, not yet actively hijacking, while Liverpool push to bridge the fee divide and close out a deal before the window shuts.
