Liverpool dan Arsenal Berebut Bradley Barcola dari Paris Saint-Germain

Klub raksasa Inggris Liverpool dan Arsenal dilaporkan bersaing ketat untuk mendatangkan pemain sayap Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Bradley Barcola, pada bursa transfer musim panas Juli 2026 setelah pembicaraan kontrak sang pemain menemui jalan buntu.

Langkah Liverpool memburu penyerang sayap berusia 23 tahun tersebut menguat demi mencari suksesor Mohamed Salah yang resmi hengkang dengan status bebas transfer pada akhir musim lalu, terlebih setelah target utama armada Andoni Iraola, Yan Diomande, lebih memilih bergabung ke PSG.

Pakar transfer Fabrizio Romano mengungkapkan situasi terkini mengenai status penggawa tim nasional Prancis tersebut yang kini tidak lagi berstatus tidak tersentuh di skuad Les Parisiens.

"Until last week, Barcola was untouchable; now I see him linked to several clubs. The reality, guys, is that Barcola is not untouchable. Barcola has serious possibilities to leave Paris in the summer transfer window.

I maintain my information since April and I stand by my information. Don’t forget also Liverpool, because both Liverpool and Arsenal are calling for Barcola. Liverpool have the player on the very top of their shortlist since the summer transfer window 2025, and Liverpool remain interested in Barcola.

Barcola is also appreciated by Arsenal, but he is not position number one. Position number one is Rogers, position number two is Barcola, and there are more options in terms of wingers. So that’s the situation at Arsenal.

Then, important to mention for PSG, he is not untouchable because the new contract talks are completely, completely on standby, stalling for a long time. So Barcola-PSG at the moment, there is no agreement over a new deal, and also important to say, PSG would ask for important money. So who’s going to sign Barcola?

It’s not just about the interest, it’s also about the package of money they’re going to present to Paris Saint-Germain. So that’s the situation." ujar Fabrizio Romano, Jurnalis Transfer.

Pihak Paris Saint-Germain dilaporkan mematok harga fantastis sebesar 150 juta euro atau sekitar lebih dari 100 juta poundsterling bagi klub peminat, mengingat kontrak sang pemain baru akan berakhir pada tahun 2028.

Mantan gelandang Liverpool, Danny Murphy, memberikan tanggapannya mengenai potensi transfer ini serta kegagalan The Reds merekrut Diomande yang justru bisa membawa berkah tersendiri.

"I hope so because I think he’s a terrific player. I don’t think they should have been looking at Diomande for the money they were talking about anyway. He is a super talent, but that’s all he is: a talent.

He’s a prospect. Paying over the odds for a player based on potential, I’m not sure over £100m for a player who hasn’t a body of work that justifies that money was the right way to go. In a way, it might be a blessing.

Barcola would be less expensive and obviously maybe surplus to requirements with the signings PSG are making. We’ve seen in the Champions League for the last couple of years now the impact he can have on games, so it’s a less risky signing. The only thing with Barcola, of course, is he’s more comfortable on the left than the right.

He can play on the right on occasion, but really I think someone more used to and suited playing on the right would probably be a better option. But Barcola maybe, too, why not? It’s certainly interesting and fascinating to see what they’re going to do because the squad needs a bit of reshaping.

There are all these questions around Liverpool at the moment, which is, when you think about winning the league and then what we spent, it’s an incredible conundrum that they’re in really and shouldn’t be in." kata Danny Murphy, Mantan Gelandang Liverpool.

Selain Murphy, mantan penyerang Liverpool Emile Heskey turut menyuarakan dukungannya agar manajemen bergerak cepat mengamankan jasa Barcola demi menambah daya gedor di sektor sayap.

"Signing Bradley Barcola would be an amazing coup for Liverpool because he provides the pace and directness we’ve been missing on the left wing. We’ve been spoiled with Sadio Mané and Luis Díaz, and now we need Barcola to get the fans off their seats again. Liverpool looked to have missed out on Yan Diomande to PSG, but that could open the door to Barcola leaving, it would be a statement signing for Andoni Iraola that’s for sure." ujar Emile Heskey, Mantan Penyerang Liverpool.

Heskey kemudian memberikan pandangan tambahan mengenai dinamika penyerang di klub Liga Primer lainnya, termasuk situasi Marcus Rashford di Manchester United.

"I think Marcus Rashford needs to move on, I don’t think he’s staying at Manchester United. It’ll be interesting to see where he goes. I doubt it will be another loan unless it’s a move with a view to a permanent deal.

I can’t see him staying at United. Aston Villa might take him on loan again with a view to a permanent move, I think he’d be a great asset there. After the season and the reception he had, a change seems likely.

I thought he might be heading to Barcelona, but it seems his time there has passed. I could see him thriving at Arsenal. I’m not a big fan of Gabriel Martinelli, I think Marcus is a lot better.

It will be interesting to see if they look at him as their next left winger." tambah Emile Heskey, Mantan Penyerang Liverpool.

Di sisi lain, mantan bek Chelsea Marcel Desailly menyarankan agar pemain berusia 23 tahun itu menolak godaan pindah ke Inggris dan memilih bertahan untuk mematangkan kariernya di Prancis di bawah asuhan Luis Enrique.

"Barcola doesn't need to leave PSG. He's too young. He's only 23 years old. Didier Deschamps is teaching him a lesson, and he's giving him a chance." kata Marcel Desailly, Mantan Bek Chelsea.

Desailly juga menambahkan analisis mengenai kelemahan kedisiplinan bertahan yang dinilainya masih melekat pada gaya permainan kompetitif Barcola saat ini.

"He's young – the attention and defensive alertness isn't there to match the speed he projects when he's going forward. He wasn't making the effort to get back into position. So he's growing, he's learning and he's getting that winning mentality on both sides of the game – being available for" tambah Marcel Desailly, Mantan Bek Chelsea.

Meskipun mencatatkan 13 gol dan enam assist di semua kompetisi musim lalu bersama PSG serta tampil apik di Piala Dunia, persaingan ketat dengan pemain seperti Khvicha Kvaratskhelia dan Desire Doue membuat menit bermain Barcola di level klub menurun signifikan.