Former Arsenal forward Perry Groves has claimed he has been told that Gunners target Bradley Barcola 'wants to live in London'. The 23-year-old Paris Saint-Germain winger is a hot property this summer, with Liverpool already in talks with the French club.
PSG's £145m demand stalls move
PSG's lofty demand of £145 million has put the brakes on a move, leaving Barcola's future uncertain with three weeks to go until transfer deadline day. The Frenchman returned to training with Luis Enrique's side on Monday but is open to a move.
Arsenal have already missed out on two wingers this summer, Vinicius Junior and Morgan Rogers, and have been tipped to go for Barcola as an alternative. Groves' claim suggests his old club boast an advantage over Liverpool.
Groves: 'I've got a source'
The former Gunners man, who played for the club between 1986 and 1992, told talkSPORT: "I've got a source that says he wants to live in London. I can't tell you [who], I can't divulge my sources. I've got a source. I've got a mole. Barcola wants to live in London."
But location isn't the only factor in Arsenal's favour, Groves added. "I've got no dog in the fight, but I would say the Gooners because Liverpool are a team that are in transition," he continued.
"Andoni Iraola going in there, imposing his own philosophy, his own style with all the new signings coming in. If you were Barcola and you thought, what out of those two sides have got the most chance of winning the Premier League or Champions League, at the moment you'd say it was Arsenal."
"So it's whether Arsenal want to go in, if they go in for him, then there would have been advances being made to his people. Because they don't want to be seen losing out on Vinicius Junior being played like a little kitten with a ball of wool, but Arsenal have to be in for those sorts of players. That's the level Arsenal are at now."
Arteta promises more signings
Mikel Arteta revealed on Sunday that Arsenal are working to bring in more new signings, having already spent £109m this summer. "That's what we're trying to do," Arteta told a press conference. "It has to be the right player in the market to make us much better. We are very much looking forward to that."
