Liverpool is pushing for a deal to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, but the Merseyside club faces some potential competition from Arsenal
Bradley Barcola continues to be linked with a transfer to Liverpool
Bradley Barcola continues to be linked with a transfer to Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport via Getty Images))
Former Arsenal star Perry Groves believes that Bradley Barcola "wants to live in London" amid talks of a potential transfer hijack of Liverpool's deal for the Paris Saint-Germain winger.
The 23-year-old has been in the middle of a transfer saga throughout the summer so far, with doubts surrounding his future at the Parc des Princes continuing. As he enters the final two years under contract with the European champions, teams have started to position themselves for a possible deal, with Liverpool and Arsenal among the interested parties.
Over the past month, the Reds have progressed further in a deal for Barcola, with the Gunners putting focus on other deals elsewhere that have since failed.
With Liverpool getting the green light from the winger on personal terms, all that is left to do is sort out a fee with PSG, before a move can get over the line and be sealed.
It's not a simple transfer to complete, though, as there remains a gap in valuation, meaning there could be a waiting game ahead.
That may hand Arsenal a route back into the conversation for Barcola, should the Premier League champions decide that he is a key target after all.
For former Arsenal star Groves, there is still a chance of getting a deal done for the Gunners, as he discussed the transfer possibility on talkSPORT.
Bradley Barcola is attracting a lot of interest this summer
Bradley Barcola is attracting a lot of interest this summer(Image: Rob Newell - CameraSport, CameraSport via Getty Images)
He said: "I've got a source that says he wants to live in London," suggesting that the move may not be as cut and dry as many thought from a Liverpool perspective.
When asked about which option would be best for Barcola, Groves added: "I would say the Gooners, because if you're looking, Liverpool are a team that is in transition, obviously, with Andoni Iraola going in there, imposing his own philosophy, his own style with new signings coming in.
"If you were Barcola and you thought what out of those two sides has got the most chance of winning the Premier League or Champions League, in my opinion you would say it was Arsenal.
"So it's whether Arsenal want to go in and, put it this way, if they go in for him then there'd have been advances being made to his people."
It's certainly a bold, if not desperate, claim that is happening while Arsenal doesn't appear to be progressing with a move for Barcola at this time.
It remains to be seen whether that will change, but it seems as though all things point toward him ending up at Anfield and not the Emirates this summer.