Iraola's Tactical Vision Impresses Barcola, But Arsenal Lurks as Preferred Destination

Liverpool are actively pursuing PSG winger Bradley Barcola as they hunt a replacement for Mohamed Salah, widely expected to depart for a Saudi Pro League club this summer. The Reds have already secured Victor Munoz from Spain for €40m, but their search for additional attacking reinforcements continues.

Initial focus fell on RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, with Liverpool even tabling a bid for the Ivory Coast international. However, that pursuit has stalled, with Paris Saint-Germain emerging as Diomande's preferred destination.

With that door closing, attention has turned to Barcola as a potential alternative. According to reports, manager Andoni Iraola has already held a direct conversation with the France international, laying out a comprehensive tactical plan detailing precisely how the winger would integrate into Liverpool's system. Sources suggest Barcola was genuinely impressed by the vision Iraola presented.

Yet there's a complication: Barcola may well prefer a move to Arsenal. Journalist Lewis Steele has suggested the 23-year-old could be swayed by the prospect of joining Mikel Arteta's project and the appeal of London life over Merseyside.

"Liverpool aren't as glamorous an option as they may have been 12 months ago," Steele noted, adding that while the club showed interest last summer, that groundwork failed to materialise into anything concrete with Diomande.

Barcola is currently performing at the World Cup for France, who are among the tournament favourites. Should the French win the competition, his market value would spike considerably—a factor that could further complicate Liverpool's pursuit. "If they are to sell him they can ask for more money because he's a World Cup winner who's played a big role in that," Steele explained. "It's going to be very, very hard for Liverpool to get Barcola."