Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has declined to rule out a potential summer exit for forward Bradley Barcola amid active transfer interest from Liverpool and Arsenal, providing a measured update on the player’s status as the European window approaches its final stretch.
Speaking to Canal Plus following his club’s victory in the UEFA Super Cup against Aston Villa, Al-Khelaifi addressed ongoing speculation surrounding the 23-year-old French international. Barcola, who joined PSG from Lyon in 2023, has logged 39 goals and 37 assists across 152 appearances for the club. As reported by Liverpool.com, the winger remains under contract at the Parc des Princes until the summer of 2028, though ongoing discussions regarding his future have drawn intense interest from Premier League sides ahead of the September 1 deadline.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi Addresses Transfer Rumors After UEFA Super Cup Win
Following the UEFA Super Cup fixture against Aston Villa, where Barcola watched from the bench as an unused substitute in Salzburg, club leadership faced immediate questions regarding the forward’s long-term prospects in Paris. According to Al-Khelaifi, negotiations remain ongoing behind closed doors without an immediate resolution guaranteed.
“We’re working calmly,” Al-Khelaifi told Canal Plus, as noted by LFCLive.net. “We don’t talk too much. When they sign for PSG, they become important to us.”
When specifically pressed on whether Barcola is set to depart before the window closes, the PSG chairman offered a non-committal response: “I can’t say today. What I can say today is that he’s a PSG player.”
Pressed further on whether reported talks with English suitors had stalled over financial valuations—with figures circulating around a significant valuation demand from the French club—Al-Khelaifi added: “We’ll see. There are discussions, negotiations, we’ll see.”
Luis Enrique and the Squad Building Context at PSG
PSG head coach Luis Enrique maintained a guarded stance when questioned about individual player movements prior to the Aston Villa clash, emphasizing internal focus over external market activity. “I don’t know and I don’t want to speak about any player individually,” Enrique told reporters, as highlighted by Liverpool.com. “It’s always dangerous when you are asking something positive or negative about a player. I stay focused on my team.”
Having already secured Maghnes Akliouche from AS Monaco this summer, PSG continues pursuing targets such as Barcelona’s Ferran Torres and Ajax’s Mika Godts. Industry observers note that securing additional attacking reinforcements could make the club more amenable to evaluating substantial bids for Barcola, who is reportedly open to exploring a prominent role elsewhere.
Alternative Targets and Premier League Interest
Reports indicate the Merseyside club has also monitored Barcola’s 18-year-old teammate, Ibrahim Mbaye, a Senegal international who primarily operates on the right wing. By contrast, Barcola features predominantly on the left flank, where Liverpool’s current squad composition is already heavily populated.
With the September 1 transfer deadline approaching, both Liverpool and Arsenal face a narrow window to test Paris Saint-Germain’s resolve. Neither club has secured a definitive breakthrough, leaving negotiations at a delicate crossroads as domestic and European campaigns gather momentum.
Worth a look
