Liverpool's pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is threatening to become another protracted transfer saga this summer. The Reds are keen to add the 23-year-old to their squad, but face potential competition from Arsenal, who may pivot to Barcola after missing out on Morgan Rogers.
Barcola's situation at PSG
Barcola has two years left on his current deal, and contract talks have hit an impasse. PSG are reportedly demanding a fee in excess of £100m, which could prove a stumbling block. James Pearce and Gregg Evans reported in The Athletic's DealSheet that Liverpool "would love to add" Barcola and "continue to monitor his situation."
Arsenal have also been linked, but The Athletic's James McNicholas noted that Barcola "is one of several attackers on sporting director Andrea Berta's radar," without suggesting an imminent move. The Gunners declined to match Chelsea's £117m bid for Rogers, indicating a valuation below that figure, which could make Barcola's price tag prohibitive.
Reds remain attentive
Fabrizio Romano stated on his YouTube channel that Arsenal have not made checks on Barcola recently, while Liverpool remain "very attentive." He said: "Barcola-Liverpool remains a concrete possibility depending on the fee they want to spend, because PSG would ask for very important money."
PSG's pursuit of Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche and RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande could influence Barcola's future. Diomande's preference for PSG has stalled due to a complicated agency situation, potentially delaying a domino effect that might free Barcola for a move.
Midfield targets: Kone and Scott
Liverpool have been tentatively linked with Roma midfielder Manu Kone. L'Equipe reported that Kone "would like to play in England" and join a club with "solid European ambitions." Manchester United are said to hold an advantage, with Arsenal also interested. Roma have set a price of €60m (£51m), but a bidding war could inflate the fee.
Bournemouth's Alex Scott has turned down a new contract, according to Sky Sports. The 22-year-old was a key player under former manager Andoni Iraola. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United have shown interest, but Bournemouth expect Scott to stay despite the rejection.
Other updates
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of 17-year-old Colombian attacking midfielder Samuel Martinez from Atletico Nacional, who will arrive next summer. The club will also listen to loan offers for Luke Chambers, Calvin Ramsay, James McConnell, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe following their US tour.
Former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson suggested Everton could target Curtis Jones for £30m-£35m, but no direct transfer between the Merseyside rivals has occurred since 2002.
