Liverpool Ready to Abandon Barcola Deal as Arsenal Eyes Opportunity
Liverpool’s pursuit of Bradley Barcola has hit a wall. A very expensive one.
The Premier League club are prepared to abandon talks with Paris Saint-Germain over the France winger, with negotiations stuck and the French champions refusing to budge on a huge valuation believed to be around £145 million.
For Liverpool, that number is too steep. For PSG, it is non-negotiable.
Liverpool’s Salah void and a deal stuck in neutral
Liverpool still haven’t replaced Mohamed Salah, who left for Trabzonspor on a free transfer last week. The search for a new right-sided attacker has pushed Barcola to the top of their list, a young, high-ceiling winger who fits the profile of a long-term pillar in the frontline.
Talks with PSG have been running for some time, but progress has stalled. There is no indication that the two clubs are close to an agreement, and the stance from Paris is clear: pay the asking price or walk away.
Barcola, for his part, is understood to be keen on the move as he looks for more minutes and a bigger role. His wishes, though, have not softened PSG’s position.
With deadline day only three weeks away and Andoni Iraola working with what has been described as a threadbare squad, Liverpool are now ready to pivot. If PSG refuse to lower the price, the plan is to move on to alternative targets rather than let the saga drag into the final days of the window.
The pressure of the calendar is starting to bite. Liverpool know they cannot afford to miss on a Salah replacement and still hope to keep pace at the top.
Arsenal watching, waiting… and ready?
Liverpool’s hesitation has not gone unnoticed. Arsenal, still hunting a marquee addition of their own, are watching the situation closely.
The Gunners failed in an ambitious push for Vinicius Junior, with the Brazilian choosing to sign a new long-term deal at Real Madrid instead of entertaining a move to north London. That setback has not dulled their appetite for a blockbuster attacking signing.
Arsenal have already strengthened the left flank with Christos Tzolis, but interest in Barcola remains. If Liverpool step away from the table, the path suddenly looks clearer for Mikel Arteta’s side to test PSG’s resolve themselves.
For now, Arsenal are biding their time, monitoring whether Liverpool truly walk away or simply use the threat as leverage. The moment Liverpool officially move on, the dynamic of the chase changes.
Arteta has already set the tone for the rest of the window, saying: “Well, that's what we're trying to do. If we have the right player in the market to make us much better, we are very looking forward to that.”
The “right player” might yet be Barcola. The question is who blinks first: PSG on the fee, Liverpool on their stance, or Arsenal on the chance to pounce.
