Ex-Arsenal player 'leaks' what source has told him about Bradley Barcola's transfer to Liverpool

Former Arsenal forward Perry Groves has revealed what a 'source' has told him about Bradley Barcola's transfer preference amid interest from the Gunners and Liverpool in signing the Paris Saint-Germain winger.

The 23-year-old is one of France's brightest young talents, having represented them in this summer's World Cup.

He is a back-to-back Champions League and Ligue 1 double winner with PSG, whom he signed for from Lyon in the summer of 2023.

He has scored 32 goals and provided a further 20 assists across all competitions over the past two seasons.

The winger played a key role in PSG's run through the Champions League last season, with manager Luis Enrique adopting a rotation policy where he would rest some of his top stars from domestic matches to keep them fully fit for European competition.

Still, PSG's apparent reluctance to entirely rule out a departure for Barcola - in spite of a huge asking price - has offered encouragement to Liverpool and Arsenal.

Despite replacing Mohamed Salah with Spain's Victor Munoz, Liverpool are widely accepted to still be a player short in wide areas and have identified Barcola to fill that gap.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have turned to Barcola after missing out on Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, with The Independent's Miguel Delaney reporting earlier this month that he is on a shortlist of three alternatives that includes Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez and Everton's Iliman Ndiaye.

They have replaced Leandro Trossard with Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis, with Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all options in wide areas.

The problem currently is that PSG are demanding a minimum fee of €150 million to sell Barcola, which Liverpool are so far refusing to commit to matching.

'I've got a source...' - Ex-Arsenal player makes Bradley Barcola claim

Now, speaking on talkSPORT, former Arsenal forward Groves - who played for the Gunners between 1985 and 1992 - claims he has heard an interesting piece of information about Barcola's thought process.

"I've got a source that says he wants to live in London," Groves claimed. "There you go. I can't tell you... I can't divulge my sources.

"I've got a source. I've got a mole. Breaking news - Barcola wants to live in London.

"I've got no dog in the fight, but I'd say the Gooners [the club he should join]. Liverpool are a team in transition. Obviously, Andoni Iraola going in there, he's imposing his own philosophy, his own style, and all the new signings coming in.

"If you were Barcola and you thought, out of those two sides, which one has the best chance of winning the Premier League or Champions League, at the moment you'd say it was Arsenal.

"Put it this way, if they go in for him, there will have been advances being made to his people. They won't want to be seen to be missing out on Vinicius Junior... that's the level Arsenal are at now, they need to be going in for these sorts of players."

What is really happening with Bradley Barcola and Liverpool?

If Barcola's preference is to move to London, he hasn't exactly shown it thus far.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the France international has given the 'green light' on personal terms to join Liverpool, and the two clubs involved are now in direct conversations over a final fee.

"My understanding is that Liverpool remain in active talks, in daily talks, with Paris Saint-Germain," Romano revealed on his YouTube channel.

"Financially, there is still no agreement. So they have to be patient. But personal terms, not an issue at all, and Liverpool remain in active talks with PSG.

"Liverpool know they need to improve their opening conversations, their indicative proposals. From my information, Liverpool did not send an official bid. They started club-to-club talks, they indicated some numbers, still far away from what Paris Saint-Germain wanted, at the start of last week.

"If PSG can land Ferran Torres, Magnus Akliouche and Mika Godts, it's obviously going to be a lot of strikers. This could facilitate Bradley Barcola to Liverpool."