Arsenal has been tipped to join the race for Bradley Barcola this summer, with Liverpool so far not having reached an agreement with PSG for the French international
Bradley Barcola in Champions League action for PSG.
Bradley Barcola in Champions League action for PSG. (Image: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta should not be considering stealing in to sign Bradley Barcola ahead of Liverpool this summer because he is not as good as Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli. That is at least according to Andy Townsend.
Barcola has been touted as an alternative to Vinicius Jr, who was of interest to the Gunners before he ultimately signed a new contract with Real Madrid. Christos Tzolis has already moved to the Emirates Stadium to replace Leandro Trossard, but Arteta is seeking another injection of quality up top.
"I totally got why Arsenal went for Vinicius Jr but I don’t get just going for another player like Barcola," Townsend told talkSPORT. "I don’t see him at the levels that others do.
"He is way behind Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. They are far better players. I don’t think he has the end product in his game to warrant the fees that are being touted. No chance.
"I don’t think I would swap Martinelli for him if I were Arteta. Martinelli knows the division and has proven himself to Arteta and Arsenal. I don’t think it is the massive trade that Arsenal needs."
So far, there has been no breakthrough in Liverpool's pursuit of Barcola. PSG is demanding a fee as high as $193 million (£145 million), which is deemed excessive.
France forward Bradley Barcola celebrates scoring at the World Cup.
France forward Bradley Barcola celebrates scoring at the World Cup.(Image: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
But the French international wants to move on in search of more minutes in the games that matter the most.
At PSG, he is not high enough in the pecking order to have started in the Champions League final, for instance, and while he has two years left on his current contract, he is not expected to pen an extension.
At the moment, PSG is attempting to conclude deals for a couple of forwards: Ferran Torres of Barcelona and Mika Godts of Ajax. It has already brought in Maghnes Akliouche.
Though it has already sold Goncalo Ramos and Lee Kang-in this summer, adding those two forwards would surely make a Barcola exit more likely.
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The new Ligue 1 season kicks off on the same weekend as the new Premier League campaign, with PSG taking on Rennes just after Liverpool has finished playing Newcastle at St James' Park.
The Reds will face Como in a friendly double-header on Sunday, with the trip to the North East coming another week after that.
Liverpool.com says: Barcola is clearly the best option available on the market this summer. Yan Diomande would have suited the Reds as well, but he chose Real Madrid.
Given that the drop-off to the next-best player after Barcola is so big, getting a deal over the line for the 23-year-old feels very important.