Arsenal are being encouraged to enter the race for Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola, potentially disrupting Liverpool's efforts to land the 23-year-old this summer.
Liverpool, under new manager Andoni Iraola, have identified Barcola as one of their priority attacking targets as they look to reshape their squad ahead of the upcoming campaign. Reports suggest the Reds have received encouraging signals that the France international could be open to a switch to Anfield, though PSG's valuation of the player—believed to exceed £130million—represents a considerable hurdle to any deal.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are pursuing their own high-profile attacking reinforcements, with a club-record move for Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr among their priorities, a deal that could surpass even Barcola's price tag. The Gunners are also reportedly closing in on an £80million agreement to sign Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, a transfer that would further bolster Mikel Arteta's options in midfield.
Former Arsenal player Emmanuel Frimpong has weighed in on the club's transfer business, insisting that success in the recent Premier League title race should not lead to complacency in the transfer market. Speaking to Ladbrokes, Frimpong praised Arteta and the club's hierarchy for their recent achievement but stressed the need for continued investment.
"Mikel [Arteta] and the boys have finally got it over the line, which I'm very happy about," Frimpong said. "But they shouldn't just win it once and be satisfied with that."
He added that Arsenal must aim to replicate the sustained dominance shown by Manchester United and Manchester City in previous years. "They have to keep on winning it now and dominate just like how Man United and Man City have in the past," he said.
Frimpong believes the current squad, while strong, still requires targeted additions to compete consistently at the highest level. "We've got the players, we've got a deep squad and hopefully this summer, the board are going to strengthen further, because I still think we need a couple of wingers and a proper number eight," he explained.
According to Frimpong, Barcola would represent an excellent fit for Arteta's system, particularly given the tactical concerns he has regarding Declan Rice's current role. "I feel like Declan Rice is playing in a position which isn't natural to him, so we need a proper number eight alongside him," he said.
When asked to identify realistic transfer targets for the summer window, Frimpong pointed to both Guimaraes and Barcola as ideal signings to address Arsenal's needs. "For me, when it comes to realistic signings this summer, with those positions in mind, I feel like Bruno Guimaraes is someone I'd love to see at Arsenal," he said. "And also Bradley Barcola… I think he would be very good for Arsenal. Barcola and Bruno Guimaraes would be a very good transfer window for Arsenal."
With Liverpool already engaged in talks over Barcola and Arsenal simultaneously chasing Vinicius Jr and Guimaraes, the coming weeks could prove pivotal in determining where the young French winger ultimately ends up. PSG's steep valuation may complicate matters for both English clubs, but the interest from two of the Premier League's biggest spenders suggests a competitive battle could unfold as the transfer window progresses.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.