Arsenal Poised to Outpace Liverpool in £100m Bradley Barcola Transfer Following Bruno Guimaraes Signing

Arsenal have been tipped to surpass Liverpool in the race for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, following their successful acquisition of midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

Strengthening the Squad

The Gunners have intensified their squad building this summer. They officially announced the £75 million signing of Guimaraes from Newcastle United, marking their third addition after winger Christos Tzolis and goalkeeper Illan Meslier. After missing out on Vinicius Junior, who renewed his contract at Real Madrid, and selling Leandro Trossard to Besiktas, Arsenal’s focus has shifted to securing Barcola to enhance their attacking options.

Competition with Liverpool

Liverpool have also identified Barcola as a primary target, reportedly placing a £100 million offer. Yet, PSG are holding out for a price closer to £150 million for the two-time Champions League winner.

Former Arsenal forward Perry Groves shared his thoughts on talkSPORT, suggesting Arsenal hold an advantage over Liverpool for Barcola's signature."I’ve got no dog in the fight, but I would say the Gooners because Liverpool are a team that are in transition. Andoni Iraola is implementing his style with many new signings coming in. If you were Barcola and thought which side had the better chance of winning the Premier League or Champions League right now, you'd probably say Arsenal.So, if Arsenal pursue him, there would be progress in talks with his representatives. After missing out on Vinicius Junior, Arsenal need to compete for players at that level. That's where Arsenal are now," Groves added.He also mentioned inside information about Barcola's living preferences: "I’ve got a source saying Barcola wants to live in London. He would be very good for Arsenal."

Support from Former Players

Emmanuel Frimpong, ex-Arsenal midfielder, also backed the move. Speaking with Ladbrokes, he emphasized the importance of maintaining success beyond last season's Premier League triumph.

"Mikel [Arteta] and the team finally achieved it, which I'm pleased about. But winning once isn't enough. They must continue winning and dominate like Manchester United and Manchester City did previously.We have the players and a deep squad, but the board needs to strengthen further this summer. We still require a couple of wingers and a proper number eight. Declan Rice seems to play out of position, so we need a true number eight alongside him.Realistically, Bruno Guimaraes and Bradley Barcola would be excellent signings for Arsenal. Adding both would make a great transfer window," Frimpong stated.

Transfer Window Ahead

Arsenal face intense competition as the transfer window progresses. Finalizing the squad swiftly is crucial before the Premier League season kicks off. Barcola’s decision about his future at PSG will heavily influence the outcome of this transfer tussle between Arsenal and Liverpool.

• Bruno Guimaraes: Signed from Newcastle for £75 million
• Bradley Barcola: PSG winger targeted by Arsenal and Liverpool; PSG seeks around £150 million
• Liverpool bid: Approximately £100 million
• Other Arsenal signings: Christos Tzolis (winger), Illan Meslier (goalkeeper)
• Missed targets: Vinicius Junior extended contract with Real Madrid