Liverpool Prepared to Walk Away from Barcola Deal as Arsenal Watch

Liverpool’s pursuit of Bradley Barcola has hit a wall – and a very expensive one at that. The club are now prepared to step away from negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain, a move that could open the door for Arsenal to make their move for the highly rated winger.

£145m stand-off

Liverpool identified Barcola as a priority option to help fill the void left by Mohamed Salah, who departed for Trabzonspor on a free transfer last week. The France winger, short on minutes at PSG, is understood to be keen on the switch and the chance to take on a starring role.

The problem is the price.

PSG have set their valuation at around £145million, according to The Athletic, and have shown no appetite to soften that stance. Liverpool, for all their need in wide areas, have no intention of going that high. The gap between the clubs has not closed despite prolonged talks, and with the window ticking towards deadline day – now just three weeks away – the deal is drifting towards stalemate.

Inside Anfield, the mood is shifting. Rather than be dragged into a drawn-out auction at PSG’s number, Liverpool are now ready to walk away and redirect their efforts.

Liverpool’s plan B

That shift in strategy is not just posturing. The club have already begun to explore alternative options, including within the same dressing room that houses Barcola.

One name on their list is Ibrahim Mbaye, the 18-year-old PSG prospect. He represents a very different type of deal: younger, less established, and, crucially, far less expensive. With Andoni Iraola working with what has been described as a threadbare squad, Liverpool’s recruitment team are under pressure to add depth and dynamism without blowing up their wage and fee structure.

If PSG refuse to budge on Barcola, Liverpool appear ready to make that call and move on.

Arsenal waiting in the wings

Liverpool’s reluctance to meet PSG’s price does not mean the chase for Barcola will end there. It may simply change hands.

Arsenal, still searching for a headline attacking signing this summer, are watching the situation closely. The club had pushed for Vinicius Junior earlier in the window, only to see the Brazilian commit his future to Real Madrid with a new long-term contract. That setback has not dulled their ambition.

Mikel Arteta’s side have already strengthened the left flank with Christos Tzolis and invested heavily in midfield, landing Bruno Guimaraes for £75m last week. Even so, the focus now is on adding more firepower in forward areas, and Barcola fits the profile: young, explosive, and capable of operating across the front line.

Arsenal are understood to hold a firm interest in the Frenchman and are prepared to bide their time. If Liverpool officially step away from the table, the path to PSG’s door becomes far less congested.

Arteta wants more

Arteta has been open about his desire to keep building. Speaking about the club’s plans for the remainder of the window, he said: “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.”

Those words carry weight in this context. Arsenal have already shown they will go big for the right player; they have also shown they are willing to wait for the right moment.

For now, Barcola remains a PSG player, Liverpool remain unwilling to cross the £145m line, and Arsenal remain patient. The question is simple: who blinks first – the selling club on their valuation, or one of England’s heavyweights on their resolve?