Liverpool are increasingly likely to withdraw from negotiations for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola. The club has struggled to find common ground with the French side, and with the summer transfer deadline just three weeks away, the Reds appear ready to shift their focus toward alternative targets to strengthen Andoni Iraola’s squad.
The pursuit of Barcola has hit a significant impasse, primarily due to the financial demands set by PSG. According to reports from The Athletic, the French club has placed an asking price of approximately £145 million on the winger. While Barcola himself is reportedly interested in the transfer as he seeks to secure more regular playing time, Liverpool have made it clear they are unwilling to meet that valuation, and PSG remains firm on their price.
Liverpool have been under pressure to bolster their attacking options following the departure of Mohamed Salah, who joined Trabzonspor as a free agent last week. Among the potential alternatives the club is now considering is 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye, who is currently a teammate of Barcola at PSG.
The potential collapse of these talks has alerted Arsenal, who remain active in the transfer market. The Gunners are still searching for a major attacking signing after missing out on Vinicius Junior, who opted to sign a new long-term contract with Real Madrid. Despite already securing the addition of Christos Tzolis to their left flank, Arsenal are reportedly maintaining an interest in the Frenchman and will monitor the situation closely to see if Liverpool formally exit the negotiations.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has publicly confirmed his intention to make further additions this summer, stating, "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." While the club recently completed a £75 million deal for Bruno Guimaraes, Arteta is now understood to be prioritizing the recruitment of additional forwards.
In other Premier League news, the league has issued a statement explaining why Tottenham were not awarded a penalty for a challenge on James Maddison against Leeds.
Spurs midfielder Maddison was denied a big moment on his return from injury as the Premier League explained why Tottenham were not awarded a penalty in their draw against Leeds.
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