Arsenal hijack Liverpool's teenage goalkeeper target and eye £100m Barcola bid

Arsenal have secured the signing of teenage goalkeeper Phoenix Blayney, 15, from Northern Irish club Larne, beating off competition from Liverpool and Nottingham Forest — and the Premier League champions are now preparing a bid for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola.

Blayney visited Liverpool’s training facilities and was photographed in a Reds kit, but ultimately chose Arsenal after impressing during a trial at the club. His father, Alan Blayney, confirmed the outcome to the Belfast Telegraph: “Everything has been agreed with Arsenal, he just needs to sign the contract. When he’s 17, he will sign a professional contract. It’s done and dusted and a pre-contract will be signed when the time is right.” Blayney will be eligible to sign professional terms when he turns 17 in November 2027.

On the senior transfer front, Arsenal are now looking into the details required before lodging an official bid for Barcola, according to The Independent. The 23-year-old France international, who scored on his World Cup debut, has been linked with both Arsenal and Liverpool for several months. Reports have placed his valuation anywhere between £60 million and £105 million.

PSG’s preference is to retain Barcola, but the French club are open to selling him and reshaping their attack. For Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta, strengthening the forward line is the primary objective of the summer window — and Barcola is viewed as a player who could elevate that department.

The moves come as Arsenal continue to build on their first Premier League title, despite suffering a Champions League final defeat just weeks ago. Arteta’s side are expected to spend around £250 million this summer in pursuit of a squad capable of competing on all fronts, with a midfielder, a winger, and potentially another forward among the targets. The club return to competitive action on August 16 against Manchester City in the Community Shield.