Dietmar Hamann explains why Arsenal could beat Liverpool to major transfer

Ex-Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann (Picture: Getty)

Dietmar Hamann says Liverpool might be set for disappointment if Arsenal decide to step up their pursuit of Bradley Barcola before the summer transfer deadline.

Barcola, 23, has played a key role in PSG’s extraordinary success since swapping Lyon for the French capital in 2023, racking up 39 goals and 37 assists in 152 appearances for Luis Enrique’s side.

In that time, the France international has helped the club claim 13 pieces of silverware, including three successive Ligue 1 titles and back-to-back Champions League crowns.

However, Barcola’s future has been the subject of mounting speculation in recent weeks, with the sought-after winger out of contract in 2028 and refusing to commit to an extension.

Liverpool, led by new head coach Andoni Iraola, are understood to have identified Barcola as their top target to replace Mohamed Salah following the Egyptian’s departure for Trabzonspor.

Premier League champions Arsenal have also been closely monitoring developments as they consider alternatives in the transfer market after their pursuit of Vinicius Junior ended in failure.

‘Can Liverpool beat Arsenal to Bradley Barcola? Potentially,’ ex-Liverpool midfielder Hamann told Andy’s Bet Club when asked about the rumours surrounding Barcola.

Barcola has been linked with both Liverpool and Arsenal this summer (Picture: Getty)

PSG are reportedly demanding £145m for the French winger (Picture: PA)

‘Obviously Liverpool still have a big pull with the stadium, the fans, and the history of the club. It’s a question only he can answer.

‘The only thing is, he’s been at a very successful club, he’s won the league pretty much every year and has won the Champions League twice in a row now. If he wants to win it a third time, he’ll want to win the league next season.

‘He probably stands a better chance at Arsenal than he does at Liverpool next season.’

Barcola has won back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG (Picture: Matthieu Mirville/DPPI/Shutterstock)

Despite Arsenal’s recent title success, Hamann remains somewhat hopeful that Liverpool have a ‘fair chance’ of convincing Barcola to choose Merseyside over north London.

He added: ‘What the case will be in two or three years, I do not know, but I think when you sign a contract over four or five years, you don’t sign it purely on the basis of what you expect to happen next season.’

‘I think Liverpool, even if Arsenal were interested, still have a fair chance because of the club they are.’

Iraola has taken over the reins at Liverpool following Slot’s dismissal (Picture: Getty)

According to Hamann, Iraola faces an almighty ‘challenge’ in trying to emulate what Jurgen Klopp achieved across his illustrious spell in charge at Anfield.

The 2005 Champions League winner believes the Spaniard will have to be adaptable in how he sets up his team over the coming weeks and months, with games coming thick and fast for the Reds both in Europe and domestically.

‘Liverpool fans will probably not expect to see the same way the club played under Jurgen Klopp, even though the fans liked it. But the success he’s had,’ Hamann added.

‘When he came to the club, nobody expected anything. He transformed the team, wins the league, goes really close in the league, getting 90-plus points, winning the Champions League, getting to another final.

Liverpool finished fifth under Slot last term (Picture: Getty)

‘It was just a whirlwind. He came, expectations were low. He changed the mentality not only of the fans but of the whole city because we know all the saying after four or five games, being top of the league, this is our season.

‘I think this is the challenge that managers will have following Klopp, because even Klopp sometimes changed his heavy metal football. I think even he changed towards the end because you know if you play full throttle all the time you run out of gas at some stage.