Liverpool had an £86million bid rejected for Yan Diomande.
The RB Leipzig winger has now made his preference clear that if he leaves this summer, he wants to join PSG.
On paper, that looks like a significant blow for Liverpool, who had shown real intent in pursuing him.
But it is also bad news for Arsenal, despite having only been lightly linked with Diomande themselves.
🤔 PICK ONE: Would you rather Arsenal signed Bradley Barcola or Morgan Rogers this summer?
Liverpool’s failed Yan Diomande pursuit will drive Bradley Barcola’s price up
With Diomande pointing towards Paris, Liverpool are likely to turn their attention elsewhere.
Bradley Barcola, already heavily linked with Arsenal, is an obvious alternative.
Liverpool have already shown they have money to spend and are willing to bid big, which only strengthens PSG’s negotiating position.
That price has already started moving. Arsenal have been informed Barcola will cost in excess of £116million, which would be above what Manchester City are paying for Elliot Anderson.
According to The Athletic, PSG do not need to sell Barcola at all after agreeing to send Goncalo Ramos to Milan in a deal worth over €74million.
Barcola is reportedly reluctant to sign a new contract and wants more game time, but PSG still consider him undervalued at anything near the £116million mark, let alone lower.
Liverpool entering the race would likely only increase that valuation further.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Morgan Rogers has become just as complicated
A similar situation appears to be happening with Morgan Rogers, where Aston Villa are reportedly demanding around £130million.
While initial reports claimed although Villa did not want to sell Rogers, they would entertain offers in the region of £80million.
But since Man City’s deal for Anderson seemingly set a new market reference point, this is no longer the case.
Arsenal had been weighing up Barcola and Rogers as their two senior options on the left, alongside the cheaper alternative of Christos Tzolis.
With both primary targets now drifting further out of reach on price, Arsenal’s path to signing an elite left-sided forward this summer looks considerably harder than it did a few weeks ago.
If Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta really want one of their primary targets, they may have to accept that they will be overpaying.
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