Bradley Barcola has been in fine form for France at the World Cup, but Marcel Desailly has advised the PSG winger to snub a transfer to either Liverpool or Arsenal
Amie Wilson Sports Writer
13:20, 08 Jul 2026
Both Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in Bradley Barcola
Both Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in Bradley Barcola(Image: Getty Images)
Arsenal and Liverpool transfer target Bradley Barcola has been urged to snub a move to either club and remain at Paris Saint-Germain this summer, with an apology extended to the Premier League outfits.
Both sides have been keeping close tabs on the winger throughout the World Cup, where he is representing France. The 23-year-old has scored twice and provided an assist in his five appearances during the competition.
He will return to the pitch when France takes on Morocco in Thursday's quarterfinal. It appears that Arsenal may hold the upper hand in the pursuit of Barcola. Reports suggest the winger would prefer a move to the Emirates over Anfield.
Despite his performances for France this summer, Barcola was in and out of the PSG starting XI last season. The French team looks set to complete the signing of Yan Diomande, which will intensify competition for starting berths.
This has fuelled suggestions that leaving PSG might be the most sensible option for Barcola. However, former French international Marcel Desailly holds a contrasting opinion.
Speaking to Sportcasting, Desailly issued a clear-cut transfer recommendation to the winger. He said: "Should he move to the Premier League? Not yet. Not yet at all."
Juan Jose Caceres and Bradley Barcola compete for the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Paraguay and France.
Bradley Barcola is currently representing France at the World Cup in North America.(Image: Getty Images)
He apologized, saying: "Sorry, Arsenal and Liverpool fans. He should stay at Paris Saint-Germain, play 25 games a season, and grow within that system."
Desailly pointed to the experience and lessons Barcola is learning from the World Cup campaign: "Barcola doesn't need to leave PSG. "He's too young. He's only 23-years-old. Didier Deschamps is teaching him a lesson, and he's giving him a chance," he said.
"I never expected Didier to swap him with Desire Doue. He has really given him a chance – and he's been rewarded for it.
"I thought that for Barcola to start and play 90 minutes at the international level, he wouldn't do it because Barcola is too light on defensive discipline.
"Remember, we play with four offensive players, and bringing Barcola into the system could have been another weakness because he doesn't make the effort to defend. When you look at his previous matches with PSG, or even some of the matches he did for the national team during the Euros, he had that weakness.
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"He's young; the attention and defensive alertness isn't there to match the speed he projects when he's going forward. He wasn't making the effort to get back into position.
"So he's growing, he's learning, and he's getting that winning mentality on both sides of the game – being available for the team structurally without the ball while also being the one who makes the difference, just as the older players are doing."
Barcola appeared in 49 fixtures across last term, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists. Claims surfaced earlier this month that the winger has informed PSG of his desire to leave the club, which would offer Arsenal and Liverpool a considerable boost.