EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal refuse to abandon €70m Barcola pursuit despite PSG warning

Exclusive

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Arsenal continue to hold a strong interest in PSG winger Bradley Barcola, with sporting director Andrea Berta spearheading a potential move for the France international winger in the summer transfer window.

FootballTransfers has been informed by sources close to the deal that Gunners sporting director Berta first made contact over a potential transfer last summer.

Conditions of a transfer were explored at that point, but PSG told Arsenal that they had no intention of allowing the France international to leave. Arteta’s side were informed that Barcola was seen as an integral part of the Parc des Princes side’s project.

Current ETV

Bradley Barcola

F, AM (L)

PSG

Bradley Barcola

F, AM (L)

PSG

€70.7M

ETV Range

€63.6M - €77.7M

View full profile

Arsenal were given a clear ‘hands-off’ message from Paris at that point but have continued to monitor the situation of Barcola, who is also wanted by Premier League rivals Liverpool.

FootballTransfers understands that Berta has remained in regular contact with Barcola's representative, Moussa Sissoko, over the past year. The Premier League champions have made it clear that they are open to a deal should the door be opened to them.

PSG hold firm on Barcola stance

PSG continue to publicly maintain a stance that does not suggest that Barcola, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €70.7 million, will be allowed to depart. Privately, too, there are no indications that the 23-year-old attacker will be allowed to leave.

Nevertheless, Arsenal are determined to keep lines of communication open and be in a position to act should circumstances change.

The Gunners have not made an official approach to PSG for the former Lyon winger, but the possibility of their interest becoming formalised is not discounted, and it could spark significant developments.

Barcola is certainly not the only attacking midfield option that Arsenal are currently tracking, with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis other options that Mikel Arteta’s side are exploring.

Barcola to Arsenal: Robin Bairner’s expert view

French football expert Robin Bairner believes PSG could open the door to a summer transfer, but has a warning for Arsenal. He told FootballTransfers:

“Of all PSG star players, Barcola is the one who looks most vulnerable to leaving in the summer. While there is still uncertainty over Ousmane Dembele’s future at PSG as contract negotiations progress, Barcola is a more expendable asset.

“His form towards the end of the season was disappointing, and it led to him being used as a substitute in the latter stages of the Champions League.

“Meanwhile, there are long-term doubts lingering over the ability of the wide man to be consistently decisive. After netting in both legs of March’s Champions League win over Chelsea, he would net only one more goal all season – against Paris FC in a 2-1 derby loss on the final day of the Ligue 1 season.

“Indeed, in 43 Champions League appearances for PSG, he has scored a comparatively disappointing six goals and supplied nine more assists for the double European champions.

“This had been an area of his game that had sharpened up in the 2024/25 campaign, when he scored 14 Ligue 1 goals and supplied a further 10 assists, and should he get back to that type of level, there is little doubt he could be an immense asset to Arsenal.”