A year ago
As Liverpool's transfer position is disclosed, Nicolo Barella answers to Jurgen Klopp's interest.
Nicolo Barella of Inter Milan has emerged as a top target for Jurgen Klopp as he looks to strengthen his midfield, and the Italian international has already replied to Anfield's interest.
Nicolo Barella appears set to reject a move to Liverpool after learning of Jurgen Klopp's interest.
The Italian has surfaced as a possible transfer target for Anfield this summer. The Reds are looking to bolster their midfield options following a slew of departures at the end of the season.
Barella might be a good option to join the club's first summer acquisition, Alexis MacAllister, at Anfield. He has been a standout performer for Inter Milan in recent seasons, helping the Serie A giants win the league title in 2021 and reach the Champions League final.
Despite this, the Reds' attempts to sign Barella appear doomed at this point. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the midfielder has been informed of Klopp's interest in bringing him to Anfield this summer.
However, he has not replied by attempting to force his way out of the San Siro. The 26-year-old, who joined Inter Milan on loan from Cagliari in 2019, has three years left on his deal.
Since then, the 44-time Italian international has made 187 appearances for the club in all competitions, with last season being his best productive season in front of goal. The news of his decision to join Inter will undoubtedly disappoint Klopp and a couple of Liverpool veterans.
Steven Gerrard has previously expressed appreciation for Barella. "I watched him [Barella] against England in Naples and he was involved in all aspects of the game," the former midfielder added.
"He performed admirably against England's midfielders, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice." He's also at a decent age, approaching his prime."
Former teammate Jamie Carragher appears to be a huge supporter of the midfielder and has stated that he could be playing football on English soil sooner rather than later.
"I think he's probably one of the best players in Europe playing in that tucked in, right-sided central midfield position," he remarked. "He goes box-to-box and scores goals from there."
"We saw how outstanding he was for his country when they won the European Championships." He's a player who can go in there and open things up, but that inside right position is so essential in football right now, and can you create runs from there? He runs ahead of the striker and poses a significant goal threat.
"Any top team requires goals from midfield." It'll be intriguing to see if he stays at Inter, but do you think he'll head to the Premier League - or maybe one of the Spanish giants - one day?
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