Bradley Barcola is a target for both Liverpool and Arsenal, with Chris Waddle advising the 23-year-old that a move to Anfield would give him more freedom under Andoni Iraola than a transfer to London would allow
Bradley Barcola is a transfer target for Liverpool and Arsenal
Bradley Barcola is a transfer target for Liverpool and Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)
Bradley Barcola has been urged to choose Liverpool over Arsenal, with the suggestion that he will be afforded greater freedom to showcase his talents under Andoni Iraola.
Barcola has emerged as a prime target for the Premier League's last two champions, with the winger entering the final two years of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain and showing little inclination to put pen to paper on a new deal.
The 23-year-old was named among the unused substitutes during PSG's European Super Cup triumph over Aston Villa on Wednesday, having only returned to preseason training last week following international duty with France at the World Cup.
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Speaking ahead of the fixture, PSG head coach Luis Enrique declined to be drawn on Barcola's future, with Liverpool having already made contact with the French club regarding the winger, though the Reds remain reluctant to match a reported valuation of between £130 million ($175 million) and £145 million ($195 million).
In a further development, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi confessed to beIN Sports: "We're working calmly, we don't talk too much, we do. I can't say whether he will leave or not. Today, he is a PSG player. We'll see!"
Former England international Chris Waddle, who played in France with Marseille, has little hesitation in declaring where Barcola ought to be headed should he seek a fresh challenge this summer.
Chris Waddle has offered his opinion on the matter
Chris Waddle has offered his opinion on the matter(Image: Getty Images)
"If I was advising Bradley Barcola, I'd be telling him he should go to Liverpool because he's going to have more license to play his own game for Liverpool under Andoni Iraola to go and do what he does, because that's why people want to spend all that money to sign him," he said.
"At Paris Saint-Germain, he gets the ball and he takes on his full-back, but if he played for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta would probably be too worried about him losing the ball. Suddenly, he's lost 50 percent or 75 percent of his game.
"If he plays for Liverpool, Iraola is going to want him to play his game, take on the full-back, run at people and create danger.
"That's too much of a risk for a manager like Arteta. If I was Barcola and I was picking between the two, I'd go to Liverpool."
Speaking to Snabbare, Waddle continued: "He needs to ask himself how he needs to play and how the teams wanting to sign him play.
"Are they direct or will they not encourage you to play to your strengths? Why would you want to play for a team like that?
"I think Barcola needs to really think about his football and what he wants to do on the pitch.
"It's pointless rocking up at a club that's a bad fit, it doesn't work out, and you wonder why you ever made the move."