David Ornstein reveals how Liverpool beat Arsenal in the race for Bradley Barcola

David Ornstein reveals how Liverpool beat Arsenal in the race for Bradley Barcola Why Liverpool won the Bradley Barcola race Bradley Barcola has officially become a Liverpool player, putting an end to one of the summer’s more intriguing transfer sagas. The France international completed his £123m move from Paris Saint Germain on Monday, signing a five year contract and taking the No.29 shirt at Anfield. For Liverpool, this was a statement signing. For Arsenal, it represents a transfer opportunity that was considered, assessed and ultimately rejected on financial grounds. PSG had previously valued Barcola at around £145m, but Liverpool negotiated a lower fee and secured a player who had apparently made his preference clear. That detail matters. In an increasingly transactional transfer market, having the player actively pushing for a move can alter the balance of power. Barcola is now Liverpool’s second most expensive signing, behind Alexander Isak, whose £125m move from Newcastle United last summer remains the club record. Arsenal transfer decision explained Arsenal were among the clubs monitoring Barcola, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirming that the winger featured on the club’s recruitment list. However, Arsenal were not prepared to match the price Liverpool eventually paid. Bayern Munich were also interested, but Liverpool had the advantage of something rather more important than a place on a shortlist, Barcola wanted to play at Anfield. X: @LFC That left Arsenal with a familiar calculation. How much is a highly talented winger worth, and at what point does the fee become difficult to justify? Liverpool evidently reached a different conclusion. With Andoni Iraola now in charge, the club identified wide attacking options as an area requiring reinforcement and moved decisively. Victor Munoz had already arrived, while Ronald Araujo joined earlier and Jeremy Jacquet arrived in January. Once Barcola was secured, Liverpool considered the job done. Liverpool get their priority target Iraola has made no secret of his enthusiasm for the signing, particularly the player’s desire to join Liverpool. Speaking at his Thursday press conference, the Liverpool head coach said: “We are very happy with Bradley. It was our priority, let’s say, to sign a very, very good player in that position. “I think he has come also with the right mentality. I’ve liked from him that he wanted Liverpool a lot. He just wanted to come here and I think that’s a good first sign. “Being the player that he is and the things that he has won recently, I think he has come also with the willingness to help us. I’m very happy with him. “He trained well with us. If everything goes well [in] today’s training also, he will definitely be available for tomorrow, yes.” That willingness could prove significant. Liverpool have paid a huge fee, but they have also acquired a player who appears determined to make the move work. Barcola faces immediate Liverpool test Barcola could make his Liverpool debut against Ipswich Town on Friday night after training with his new teammates this week. Whether he starts, however, remains uncertain. Iraola admitted that the winger has not played during pre season, although he has trained normally with the group. Asked whether Bradley Barcola is ready to start, Iraola replied: “It’s a good question, it’s a good question. I see him in a good place. He has trained with us in three trainings. “It’s true that he hasn’t had minutes in pre-season but he has been training normal with the group. Then it’s a decision we have to make. “I think he’s in a good place but we also have to consider that he hasn’t had the minutes in the pre-season games.” For Arsenal, the question will be whether walking away was sensible financial discipline or a missed opportunity. For Liverpool, that judgement will ultimately depend on what Barcola does once the competitive football begins.