PSG target turns down Liverpool – could affect Arsenal’s business

Yan Diomande has chosen Paris Saint-Germain over Liverpool, which could push the Merseyside club towards Arsenal transfer target Bradley Barcola.

David Ornstein reported for The Athletic on Sunday that Yan Diomande has chosen Paris Saint-Germain as his next destination, if he leaves RB Leipzig this summer.

Diomande believes in PSG’s project and wants to play for Luis Enrique, and he sees the move as his best opportunity to compete for trophies and individual awards.

Liverpool had offered Leipzig a €100m package, but Leipzig wanted closer to €130m, and the player himself has now expressed his preference for PSG.

As much fun as it is to laugh at Liverpool’s failure to sign Diomande, it doesn’t present a potential complication for Arsenal’s summer business.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Bradley Barcola’s situation remains open and he’s on Liverpool’s shortlist, and that the player could potentially leave if both Diomande and Maghnes Akliouche join PSG. Barcola has also been linked with Arsenal in recent weeks.

So whilst PSG signing Diomande and selling Barcola could open up the door for Arsenal to sign the winger, it would also mean significantly increased competition from Liverpool – whose alternative target would be off the market.

Arsenal may not end up going for Barcola anyway. There have been suggestions that the Gunners are interested in signing either Barcola or Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, but it probably won’t be both.

So if Arsenal view Rogers as the better option, they’ll likely fade from the race for Barcola. If not, it looks like they’ll have to compete with Liverpool for the PSG man.

• Will Arsenal break their poor transfer sale record this summer?
  Arsenal’s transfer sale record has stood since 2017, but Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri could finally break it this summer.
• Arsenal rejected €35m bid for Ethan Nwaneri
  Arsenal reportedly rejected a €35m bid for Ethan Nwaneri last summer, but Borussia Dortmund remain keen as interest in the youngster grows.
• Arsenal u17s declared joint champions as tournament cancelled due to typhoon
  Arsenal U17s were crowned joint Shanghai Future Star Cup champions after Typhoon Dolphin forced the cancellation of the final against China U17.
• FA ban pitchside walls after ex-Arsenal youngster’s death
  The FA has introduced a major safety rule following the death of former Arsenal academy player Billy Vigar, banning hard perimeter walls.
• Arsenal transfer truth emerges over Bruno Newcastle move
  Fresh reporting claims Bruno Guimaraes did not reject Arsenal in 2022, with the Gunners instead deciding against completing the deal.