Arsenal and Liverpool battle for PSG winger Barcola

Liverpool and Arsenal are both pursuing Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola this summer, with the French international reportedly favoring a move to London as his future in Paris remains uncertain. The 23-year-old is currently competing for France at the World Cup, where his performances could further inflate his transfer value.

Barcola’s potential availability stems from PSG’s own transfer ambitions, primarily their pursuit of Liverpool’s initial top target, Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. With Diomande preferring a move to PSG, Liverpool pivoted to Barcola as a key alternative to replace Mohamed Salah, who departed the club in May. Arsenal have also long held an interest in the winger as they seek to strengthen their left flank.

Journalist Lewis Steele, speaking on a podcast, outlined several factors that could give Arsenal an edge. He suggested Barcola might be attracted by the prospect of playing under manager Mikel Arteta and living in London, while also noting that Liverpool’s appeal may have diminished following a difficult 2025-26 season in which they finished fifth and won no trophies. PSG are said to be demanding a fee in excess of £116 million for a player with...