Bradley Barcola is aiming to win the Premier League after completing his move to Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain for an initial £106m (€123m), which could rise to £123m (€144m). The France international has signed a five-year deal.
Andoni Iraola has prioritised signing wingers this summer after replacing Arne Slot. Barcola follows the arrival of Victor Muñoz as the former Bournemouth head coach aims to rebuild the front line.
“It took a long time but I’m really happy today to be able to play for Liverpool and all I want is to be on the pitch and be able to play,” Barcola said. “I hope to achieve very big things. First of all, winning the Premier League – it’s one of my biggest dreams in my life. It is to do that and to stay in this team in the long term – that’s why I signed a long contract – and I hope I can do it.”
Barcola, who will be 24 on Wednesday, was a long-term target for Liverpool, who have tracked his progress over a number of seasons. Completing the transfer has been delayed while PSG waited to make signings to compensate for the exit of the former Lyon player, who attracted interested from other clubs but was adamant that he was willing only to join Liverpool.
“When I knew about Liverpool’s interest in me, I didn’t ask questions and I knew it was a very big club for me,” Barcola said.
The Frenchman will probably be Liverpool’s final incoming but this could change if Cody Gakpo departs for Manchester City. Liverpool would consider selling the Dutchman only if they felt it were in their interests.
Liverpool have targeted younger players in this window, evidenced by the signings of 21-year-old Jérémy Jacquet and the 23-year-old Muñoz in the hope of building a squad for the long term.
Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez is linked with Arsenal. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire
Meanwhile, Arsenal are running out of time to persuade Julián Álvarez to join them from Atlético Madrid after agreeing to sell Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Fábio Vieira in deals collectively worth more than £70 million.
Álvarez has his heart set on Barcelona despite Atlético’s insistence they will not sell to their La Liga rivals and returned to training on Sunday after being left out of their squad for the win over Sevilla.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is understood to have spoken to Álvarez last week in an effort to persuade the former Manchester City forward to return to the Premier League and to have been informed the Argentina international wants only Barcelona.
The Spanish champions have since agreed an £8.6 million deal to sign Jesus, who has entered the final year of his contract after falling down the pecking order behind Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökeres. However, Barcelona would like to sign another attacker after selling Ferran Torres to Paris Saint-Germain and are said to have not given up on Álvarez.
Atlético have agreed a deal with Juventus for Jonathan David on an initial loan with an option to make the Canada forward’s move permanent next summer. But they are understood to be determined to keep Álvarez, who joined from City in 2024
Arsenal remain hopeful the 26-year-old could change his mind but are believed to be monitoring several other attacking options. Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye was among the players on their shortlist but Tottenham are in advanced talks over a £60 million deal for the Senegal forward. Arsenal missed out on Morgan Rogers to Chelsea and failed in an ambitious attempt to sign Vinícius Júnior, the Brazil forward signing a contract extension at Real Madrid.
Arsenal have signed Christos Tzolis to replace Leandro Trossard on the left but Martinelli’s expected departure to Al-Hilal for a club-record £56 million sale would create a space in the squad, although Eberechi Eze is also capable of playing there.
Martinelli, who scored six times in the Champions League last season but only once in the Premier League, is due to have his medical on Monday after being left out of Arsenal’s squad against Coventry on the opening weekend. His fee surpasses the £40 million Liverpool paid Arsenal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017.
Vieira looks poised to join Hamburg, where he was on loan last season, for £8.6 million. – Guardian