27 February 2023 , 01:00
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Liverpool will have to pay £70million if they want to land Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella this summer according to reports.
The midfielder, who continues to blossom at the San Siro, has seen his reputation grow around Europe with Jurgen Klopp among his admirers.
The Italian helped his country win the Euros at Wembley and has also claimed Serie A glory with Inter, who have him tied down on a contract until 2026.
They are under no pressure to sell Barella and will demand top dollar for a player who Liverpool have scouted, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Reds are set to overhaul their midfield having failed to add a marquee signing in that area last summer.
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Jurgen Klopp among the admirers of Nicolo BarellaThat decision has come back to haunt them with several of their established stars ageing and struggling to produce the intensity necessary.
Jude Bellingham is top of their wishlist, but there will be huge competition for the Borussia Dortmund man, who will cost north of £100m.
Liverpool are among those in the race alongside Manchester City and Real Madrid, but the Merseysiders are having to consider alternatives should they miss out.
Barella is among those with Klopp a big fan of the 26-year-old - who missed both games between Inter and the Reds in the Champions League last season.
That didn't stop Klopp praising the midfielder though.
He said: "That Barella is not able to play is not bad for us.
"He's a really good player, a really good player and I like him a lot. He has all the things you want from a midfield player: he is aggressive, he is technical, he can run for ages and all these kinds of things. That's a top-class player."
Nicolo Barella has a contract at Inter until 2026Barella himself has confessed that he would be happy to remain at Inter until the end of his current contract, which gives him another three years in Milan.
The Italian side have though shown themselves willing to part with their major stars for the right price - Romelu Lukaku being an example before his return.
Liverpool could yet turn to some of their domestic rivals for midfield solutions however.
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Last summer they were linked with Matheus Nunes, then at Sporting Lisbon, but missed out as he joined Wolves.
Brighton's highly-rated Moises Caicedo tried to push through a move to Arsenal last month and is another player on the shortlist.
Klopp has already confessed that an overhaul is needed: "We know we have to change things and we will.
"We cannot do that now but it is already clear we have to do something in the summer.
"The way this club is led is not by splashing the money and having a look to see if it works out or not. Our transfers always have to be on point."