Emmanuel Petit Predicts Liverpool to Win Barcola Race but Questions Top-Four Chances

Emmanuel Petit expects Liverpool to win one of the biggest transfer battles of the summer – and still fall short of the Premier League’s top four.

The former Arsenal midfielder believes Bradley Barcola is destined for Anfield rather than the Emirates, even as both English giants circle the PSG winger in a deal likely to soar well beyond £100million.

Liverpool and Arsenal collide over Barcola

Both clubs are hunting a new wide forward before the window closes on September 1, and Barcola has become the shared obsession.

The 23-year-old France international is poised to leave PSG after talks over a new contract stalled. Liverpool have been seen as frontrunners for some time, with Barcola understood to be keen on the move and personal terms already agreed.

There is a problem: the price. PSG are holding out for around £130million (€151m), a figure Petit points out has been inflated by the money Manchester City and Chelsea have thrown at Elliott Anderson and Morgan Rogers this summer.

Fenway Sports Group are reluctant to go that high, but the interest has not cooled.

Arsenal arrived later to the chase. Having already offloaded Leandro Trossard and preparing to part ways with Gabriel Martinelli, they are now seriously weighing up Barcola as a replacement option on the left.

Petit, though, thinks the Londoners may already have their man in that position.

“Arsenal have just signed Christos Tzolis, who has made a big impression so far, he was brilliant in the Community Shield,” he told Grosvenor Sport.

“With Martinelli leaving and Trossard no longer at the club, they likely need another option on the left side.

If they were to bring in Barcola, it would be difficult for both players to secure a spot in the starting eleven.

That said, I am a huge fan of Barcola. I believe Liverpool need him much more than Arsenal.

They definitely need to strengthen their wide areas, particularly on the left flank, they have had problems there since the start of last season.”

For Petit, the logic is clear: Arsenal have already moved to refresh their left side and seen Tzolis hit the ground running, while Liverpool still look short in that area. The Frenchman expects that need to tell in the final stretch of negotiations.

Petit doubts Liverpool’s top-four credentials

Even if Liverpool land Barcola, Petit is far from convinced Andoni Iraola can drag them back into the Champions League places at the first attempt.

The Spaniard has swapped Bournemouth for one of the most demanding jobs in Europe after Arne Slot’s departure, and Petit sees a squad still riddled with gaps.

“I am still waiting to see Liverpool’s full intent in the transfer market, as they currently appear to be missing key players,” he said.

“They have a new manager in Iraola, and adjusting to the scale of Liverpool after Bournemouth is a big transition.

Liverpool need results immediately.

Ultimately, I see the top four being Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United. Liverpool may find it tough again this year.”

It is a stark verdict. Even with a £100m-plus winger potentially arriving, Petit’s early-season hierarchy leaves Liverpool on the outside looking in.

The club’s recruitment drive is not finished. A fresh report claims the Reds are also targeting a highly rated Chile attacker as Iraola pushes for more firepower.

Whether that, and a possible Barcola coup, is enough to crash the top-four party is the question that will define Liverpool’s season.