Arsenal's Late Move for PSG Winger Bradley Barcola
Arsenal have joined the pack circling Bradley Barcola – and Carlton Cole believes the Paris Saint-Germain winger is exactly the profile Mikel Arteta’s squad is missing.
Barcola wants out of PSG, with the French champions open to a sale at the right price as they look to reshape their squad. That stance has sparked interest across Europe, and Liverpool currently sit closest to the deal.
They have pushed hardest over recent weeks and are viewed as the most advanced suitors. But they have not closed it. Not yet. That hesitation keeps the door ajar for Arsenal as the window ticks towards its final days.
Arsenal’s left flank question
Inside the Emirates, the equation is simple: if Arsenal can move on Gabriel Martinelli, their pursuit of Barcola is expected to sharpen.
Arteta already has an attack that has been reinforced this summer, yet the left side still feels one signing short. Barcola, a natural left-sided forward, would drop straight into that gap, offering a different angle of threat and genuine depth in a position that has carried a heavy load in recent seasons.
The 21-year-old also brings something that cannot be coached – the habit of winning. He has lifted back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG, experience that would instantly raise the competitive temperature in Arsenal’s dressing room.
Cole sees that blend of profile and pedigree as exactly what Arsenal should be targeting.
“Bruno Guimaraes has come in, he's a brilliant player, and I still think they probably want one more signing before the window shuts,” he told the Metro. “I know they're still trying to do a little bit of business. I think they need another left-sided forward, they're obvious in the running to sign Barcola; they need someone like that.”
Cole’s call for one more weapon
Cole’s message is clear: Arsenal’s work in this window should not be considered finished without another option on that flank.
Barcola would hand Arteta an extra attacking gear, capable of stretching defences with pace and direct running while also carrying the experience of major European nights from his time in Paris. For a squad aiming to sustain a title push and go deeper in Europe, that kind of addition matters.
Arsenal have already added quality in key areas, but the chance to bring in a young, Champions League-tested winger is the sort of opportunity top clubs rarely ignore. If they can clear space in the squad and satisfy PSG’s demands, the Frenchman instantly becomes one of the most intriguing late-window moves.
Liverpool, though, remain firmly in the race. Their long-standing interest and head start in talks keep them in pole position, yet their inability so far to get the deal over the line leaves room for a late twist.
If Barcola does depart Paris in the coming days, the question is simple: will he be lighting up Anfield, or racing down the left at the Emirates as Arsenal chase the final piece of their attacking puzzle?
