Bradley Barcola's Future: Arsenal Preferred Over Liverpool in £116m Transfer Saga

The future of Paris Saint-GermainTeam·Paris Saint-Germain's highly-rated winger, Bradley BarcolaPlayer·Bradley Barcola, has become a central talking point in the summer transfer window, with reports indicating a strong preference for a move to ArsenalTeam·Arsenal over LiverpoolTeam·Liverpool. The French champions have reportedly set an asking price in excess of £116 million for the France international, who remains under contract until 2028.

Barcola's potential departure from the Parc des Princes comes despite PSG securing both the Ligue 1Competition·Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League titles last season. His role within the squad saw a reduction, prompting the player to seek more consistent game time elsewhere. This desire for a new challenge is further compounded by PSG's reported pursuit of RB LeipzigTeam·RB Leipzig winger Yan DiomandePlayer·Yan Diomande, who is rumoured to favour a switch to Paris.

According to Daily Mail journalist Lewis Steele, Barcola's inclination towards North London is influenced by several factors. Steele suggested that the prospect of playing under ArsenalTeam·Arsenal's head coach Mikel Arteta, coupled with the appeal of living in the vibrant capital city of London, could be significant draws for the young winger.

"I do think he probably will end up leaving PSG. He's got a decision to make and he might prefer Arsenal. He's probably looking at Arteta, and he might want to live in the capital city of London,"— Lewis Steele.

Steele also noted that LiverpoolTeam·Liverpool might not be perceived as "as glamorous an option" following their challenging 2025/26 campaign. While Barcola's preference appears to lean towards the Gunners, LiverpoolTeam·Liverpool's interest remains robust. As reported by Fabrizio Romano on July 2, 2026, "I'm not going to say Barcola is not for sale at the end of June because I think there is still the possibility to see some movement, with LiverpoolTeam·Liverpool really interested, with Barcola also on ArsenalTeam·Arsenal's list. But LiverpoolTeam·Liverpool are really, really keen on the player."

When directly questioned about his future after the ongoing World Cup, Barcola remained non-committal, stating:

"Focus on World Cup now. After that, my future… I don't know."— Bradley Barcola.

Both Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League clubs are actively seeking to bolster the left side of their attacking formations. For ArsenalTeam·Arsenal, Barcola is viewed as a potential upgrade, particularly given that Gabriel MartinelliPlayer·Gabriel Martinelli registered only one league goal last season, and Leandro TrossardPlayer·Leandro Trossard, while a capable squad player, is advancing in age. LiverpoolTeam·Liverpool, meanwhile, is in the market for a replacement for Mohamed SalahPlayer·Mohamed Salah and a long-term solution following Luis DiazPlayer·Luis Diaz's transfer to Bayern MunichTeam·Bayern Munich, identifying Barcola as a strong candidate to invigorate their forward line.

ArsenalTeam·Arsenal concluded the 2025/26 season in triumphant fashion, securing their first Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League title in 22 years by finishing 1st with 85 points. They also reached the UEFA Champions League final, ultimately falling to Paris Saint-GermainTeam·Paris Saint-Germain. In contrast, LiverpoolTeam·Liverpool endured a more challenging season, finishing 5th in the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League with 60 points and experiencing early exits from the Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League, FA CupCompetition·FA Cup, and EFL CupCompetition·EFL Cup. These contrasting fortunes may play a role in Barcola's ultimate decision as the transfer saga unfolds.