As negotiations over a new Paris Saint-Germain contract continue to stall, both Liverpool and Arsenal are preparing to pounce for Bradley Barcola.
The 23-year-old is a big part of Luis Enrique’s plans at PSG, already making 18 appearances this season in all competitions and scoring five goals.
This follows his breakout campaign last time round in which he made an incredible 64 appearances in all competitions for the French giants, scoring 21 times.
The forward has also racked up 18 caps for France since his debut last year, scoring three goals, and will expect to be at next summer’s World Cup.
PSG certainly want to keep hold of Barcola, but discussions over a new contract are not progressing.
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He joined from Lyon in 2023 and is still on the same deal he signed then, which runs until 2028.
Barcola, therefore, is not about to leave on a free transfer, but having turned down an offer of a new contract from his current club, suitors are on alert.
French publication Le10Sport report that an offer of a ‘significant salary increase’ is yet to be accepted and that a move next summer is a distinct possibilty.
The report also states that there is interest from the Premier League in Barcola, namely from Liverpool and Arsenal.
The Saudi Pro League is also touted as a possible destination for the Frenchman, but is not his preferred option.
Barcola was linked with a move over the summer as well, but Enrique predicted that he will remain at PSG for years to come.
‘I have no doubt that he’ll stay our player,’ the Spaniard said in July. ‘We like the fact that our players are interesting other clubs. But he’s one of those young players that we’ve been banking on.
‘I expect him to play here for many more years.’
Both Arsenal and Liverpool are well-stocked in wide forward areas at the moment, making it difficult to see where Barcola would fit into either team on a regular basis.
However, he could be seen as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah at Anfield, with the Egyptian hinting that he could leave the club as early as January in his shock outburst on Saturday.
Speaking of the home game against Brighton this coming Saturday, Salah said: ‘I don’t know if I am going to play or not but I am going to enjoy it. In my head, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what is going to happen now.
‘I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go the Africa Cup (of Nations). I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.’
