Liverpool given Bradley Barcola transfer warning which simply must jolt Richard Hughes into action | OneFootball

According to one report which emerged on Sunday morning, Liverpool may be at risk of missing out on Bradley Barcola to a direct Premier League rival in the final few days of the summer transfer window.

The Paris Saint-Germain winger has been the Reds’ main target over the past couple of months and has already agreed personal terms on a prospective move to Anfield, although the two clubs have yet to agree a fee for the 23-year-old.

French reporter Fabrice Hawkins claimed last week that ‘everyone involved’ in the proposed transaction ‘thinks there will be an agreement’ which’d pave the way for the forward to become an LFC player, although one source has now warned of a threat from within the English top flight.

Arsenal eyeing Barcola transfer hijack

As reported by CaughtOffside this morning, Arsenal could re-enter the race for Barcola amid an impasse between Liverpool and PSG over a price for the winger, with the Reds viewing his maximum worth at £120m but the European champions demanding £130m up front plus a potential £15m in add-ons.

The Gunners are reportedly being kept informed of developments regarding the France international, who it’s claimed could be ‘tempted’ by a move to north London despite already signalling his approval of a switch to Merseyside.

One source told the outlet: “Liverpool and PSG still have no agreement on Barcola; there’s a significant gap in valuation. Arsenal haven’t completely gone away and could aggressively enter the conversation again if it becomes clear this deal is really stalling.”

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Liverpool must throw everything at signing Barcola this month

At present it’d seem that the Reds remain Barcola’s firm first choice, but the longer that the saga goes on without a fee being agreed with PSG, the more that fears of a potential hijack from Arsenal may grow.

Liverpool will naturally be cautious of not being duped into paying over the odds for the player, but if an extra £10m could be the difference between securing his signature and missing out on him, surely they must view it as a calculated gamble worth taking?

Andoni Iraola is going into today’s Premier League opener against Newcastle with Federico Chiesa as his only natural right winger, and although Barcola chiefly plays off the left, he’s a proven high-level operator who can easily adapt to any position across the forward line.

The 23-year-old has been frozen out at PSG amid the uncertainty over his future, a situation which doesn’t help him but should offer encouragement to LFC sporting director Richard Hughes to come forward with an appetising package which could force the Parisians’ hand.

For Liverpool to miss out on the Frenchman at this stage of the transfer window would be galling; to see him join Arsenal would be an incomprehensible gut punch. The Anfield hierarchy simply must throw everything they have at this pursuit over the next nine days.