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Liverpool ‘prepared to invest’ in PSG star as ‘prime alternative’ emerges after missing out on Semenyo

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Bradley Barcola has been linked with a move to Liverpool.

 

Liverpool are ready to buy Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola after missing out on Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, according to reports.

 

Semenyo is expected to complete a move to Manchester City when the January transfer window opens after widespread reports indicated Pep Guardiola’s side was his ‘preference’.

 

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed on Monday that the Reds could look to sign as many as two players in the January transfer window despite their huge summer outlay.

 

 

Liverpool spent over £400m on new players over the summer but the Reds are still in need of reinforcements after a poor first half of the season.

 

The Reds are likely to attempt to improve their defence in January if possible, while adding a potential attacking option is also a possibility after Alexander Isak picked up a serious injury in their 2-1 win at Tottenham.

 

Uncertainty over Mohamed Salah’s future has also accelerated Liverpool’s need for attacking reinforcements, although the Egpyt international is expected to remain at Anfield until the summer.

 

READ: Top 10 post-Christmas title capitulations to frighten Arsenal (who have previous)

 

And now Caught Offside has claimed that PSG star Barcola ‘is now emerging as a prime alternative for either the January window or next summer’ after Liverpool missed out on Semenyo.

 

The report adds: ‘The Reds’ recruitment team are understood to have intensified their monitoring of the French international, viewing him as a long-term solution capable of elevating their attacking options under Arne Slot.

 

‘Slot is known to be a strong admirer of Barcola’s profile. The 23-year-old has developed into one of Ligue 1’s most dynamic wide attackers.’

 

Barcola still has a contract in Paris until the summer of 2028 with PSG keen to renew his contract – but negotiations over an improved deal have ‘stalled’ in recent months

 

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It is understood that the delay is ‘driven by a degree of caution from the player and his representatives’ with Barcola – who has scored five goals in 13 Ligue 1 appearances this term – looking to assess all options.

 

Despite not being successful in their pursuit of Semenyo, Liverpool are still ‘keen to add a high-level wide forward’ to their squad with the Reds ‘prepared to invest in the right profile rather than rush into short-term fixes’.

 

Liverpool think a January transfer ‘would be difficult’ for Barcola but ‘believe groundwork laid now could put them in a strong position for the summer’.

 

Speaking over the summer, PSG boss Luis Enrique insisted that he expected Barcola to be at the Parc des Princes for “many more years”.

 

He said in July: “I expect him to play here for many more years, and I think he wants to. So I have no doubt he’ll remain our player.”

 

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Arsenal injury, suspension list and return dates vs. Portsmouth: Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera latest

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Arsenal will begin their bid to win the FA Cup for the 15th time in their history when they travel to Fratton Park for Sunday’s meeting with Championship strugglers Portsmouth.

 

The Gunners missed the chance to further extend their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table in Thursday’s underwhelming goalless draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.

 

While their five-game winning league run came to an end, Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the fact that his side are now unbeaten in seven competitive matches ahead of Sunday’s cup tie and Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.

 

Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Arsenal’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of the clash with Portsmouth, who are languishing in 21st spot in the Championship standings.

 

Piero Hincapie

 

 

 

Status: Major doubt

 

Type of injury: Muscle

 

Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)

 

Hincapie was forced off with what appeared to be a muscle problem in the 57th minute of Thursday’s draw with Liverpool. Arteta now faces a nervous wait to discover the full extent of the defender’s injury.

 

Kai Havertz

 

 

Status: Minor doubt

 

Type of injury: Match fitness

 

Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)

 

Havertz has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of action for months. However, he has been left out of Arsenal’s last two matchday squads as he continues to build up his fitness. There is a possibility that the forward could make his first appearance since August in Sunday’s FA Cup clash.

 

Riccardo Calafiori

 

 

Status: Out

 

Type of injury: Muscle

 

Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)

 

Calafiori has sat out Arsenal’s last four matches with a muscle injury. The defender is making progress in his recovery, but he is not expected to be ready for the upcoming trip to the south coast.

 

Cristhian Mosquera

 

 

Status: Out

 

Type of injury: Ankle

 

Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)

 

Like Calafiori, Mosquera is closing in on a return to action after missing over a month of action due to an ankle injury. However, the former Valencia defender will not be available for selection this weekend.

 

Max Dowman

 

 

Status: Out

 

Type of injury: Ankle

 

Possible return date: Unknown

 

Max Dowman is likely to be out until February after sustaining an ankle problem while playing for Arsenal Under-21s in last month’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United.

 

ARSENAL’S SUSPENSION LIST

 

Arsenal have no players suspended for the third-round tie.

 

 

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Full confirmed list of Arsenal ins and outs in January transfer window as first deal announced

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Arsenal transfer ins and outs as Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta get to work in the January window

 

 

 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

 

Arsenal remain in the driving seat to clinch the Premier League title crown this season – and they could strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad to bolster their chances.

 

 

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Whether or not the right players are out there remains to be seen, but with Arteta enduring several injury blows already this season – particularly in defence – the manager will be keeping a close eye on potential targets.

 

The Gunners splashed the cash in the summer, bringing in the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera to the Emirates Stadium – so a loan deal might favour the club

 

Gabriel Martinelli ban and fine verdicts as FA make punishment decision on Arsenal ace

 

There could also be high-profile exits, both loans and permanent deals, with young midfield talent Ethan Nwaneri linked with an exit. Other youngsters could also make loan moves to get a taste of first-team football.

 

With that said, football.london takes a closer look at all the moves completed by Arsenal so far this January.

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News Liverpool’s injury list, suspensions and availability

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Read the latest information on injuries, suspensions and availability in the Liverpool men’s squad.

 

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Injuries

 

Hugo Ekitike

 

Ekitike was unavailable for the clash with Fulham because of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). Arne Slot was asked whether he will be fit for the game at Arsenal on January 8.

 

Slot on January 7: “He has not trained with us until now and let’s see if he can today.

 

“I’ve said, I think, two or three days ago when we played Fulham that he is not going to be out for long but because games come so fast he is in between maybe training with the team or it would take him one or two days extra.”

 

Wataru Endo

 

The midfielder has been out of action with an ankle injury since appearing in the 3-3 draw at Leeds United on December 6.

 

Alexander Isak

 

Isak is facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture on December 22.

 

He sustained the issue while scoring against Tottenham Hotspur two days prior.

 

Slot on December 23: “It’s going to be a long injury. For a couple of months. That’s a big, big, big disappointment for him and as a result of that of course also for us.”

 

Slot did also confirm he is confident Isak will be able to play again during the 2025-26 season.

 

Giovanni Leoni

 

The defender is amid a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the end of his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

 

Slot on September 26: “He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year. Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game… it’s very hard to take the positive side.

 

“There’s never a positive side – but you always try to look at a positive side and that is that he is still so young, so he has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”

 

Availability

 

Mohamed Salah

 

After featuring off the bench versus Brighton on December 13, the forward is now with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.

 

Salah scored in the group games against Zimbabwe and South Africa to help his country reach the last 16. They are next in action on January 5.

 

Suspensions

 

Conor Bradley

 

Bradley is one yellow card away from receiving a one-match suspension in the Champions League.

 

The Reds travel to Marseille on January 21 for matchday seven of the league phase and then host Qarabag a week later.

 

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