Arsenal have been urged to hijack Liverpool’s move for Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Bradley Barcola.
The 23-year-old is at the centre of one of the transfer sagas of the summer as the Reds look to make another huge signing.
Last summer Liverpool invested heavily as Premier League champions in the likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.
It didn’t work out well, with a disappointing season following and a fifth-place finish costing Arne Slot his job as manager.
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With the arrival of Andoni Iraola in the dugout and the departure of club legend Mo Salah, they are looking to spend big again, with Barcola at the top of their shopping list.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that club-to-club discussions have begun between the English and French heavyweights, although there is a significant gap to bridge between their valuations.
The report suggests that Barcola is keen on a move to Anfield, but former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong reckons the Gunners should look to gazump their Premier League rivals.
Arsenal are already making a move to sign midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle and Frimpong reckons Barcola would be an ideal second big signing after the Brazilian.
‘Mikel [Arteta] and the boys have finally got it over the line, which I’m very happy about. But they shouldn’t just win it once and be satisfied with that,’ the 34-year-old told Ladbrokes.
‘They have to keep on winning it now and dominate just like how Man United and Man City have in the past.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.’
Reports in France, from RMC Sport, have suggested PSG are hoping for €170million (£145m) if they are to sell Barcola.
That seems very unlikely, although Romano’s report states that Liverpool are willing to go over the €100m (£85m) mark.