Liverpool push for Barcola as Arsenal shop Lewis-Skelly, City chase Bouaddi

Liverpool are closing in on a deal for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, with the two clubs continuing to negotiate a fee after the England-based side reportedly agreed personal terms with the France international. The Reds have already added Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo on loan this summer and see Barcola as a priority addition before the transfer window shuts.

PSG are understood to be holding out for a fee in the region of £145million, a figure that has complicated talks even after personal terms were said to have been settled. Both clubs remain in dialogue over the transfer, though the size of PSG’s valuation means the deal is far from certain to be completed before the deadline.

Arsenal shop Lewis-Skelly around the top flight

Elsewhere, Arsenal have offered academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly to several Premier League rivals, including Chelsea and Manchester United, as the Gunners reassess their squad following the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes. Chelsea have long been admirers of the 19-year-old, while United’s search for a left-back has intensified after talks over Newcastle’s Lewis Hall stalled.

Arsenal had been expected to reconsider Lewis-Skelly’s future once Guimaraes was confirmed, and the move to test interest elsewhere suggests the north London club are open to a sale rather than blocking approaches outright. No fee or destination has yet been agreed, with talks understood to be at an early stage.

City close in on Bouaddi

Manchester City, meanwhile, are progressing towards a deal for Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, one of the breakout performers of last winter’s World Cup. Reports have put the fee at around £85million, with City viewing the midfielder as a long-term addition to their engine room regardless of the futures of their more senior options.

The move comes as City weigh up their midfield options more broadly, with uncertainty surrounding one of their established stars fuelling suggestions that reinforcements are being lined up in that area of the pitch. Bouaddi’s arrival, if confirmed, would represent one of the marquee deals of City’s summer business.

Weeks left in the window

With the summer window entering its closing stretch, all three deals highlight how quickly the picture can change as clubs juggle multiple targets and fees. Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City all have significant business still to complete, and further movement on Barcola, Lewis-Skelly and Bouaddi is expected in the coming days as the deadline nears.

Read more: Liverpool agree surprise loan deal for Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo

Sources

• Evening Standard
• The Independent

This is an independent report written from the facts across the sources named above.