Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella has emerged as one of the top transfer targets for Liverpool ahead of the summer transfer window.
Several reports have even gone as far as to state the deal was one step away, with the Anfield outfit prepared to fork out up to £68 million to get the Italians’ go-ahead.
Barella was supposed to be one of the Reds’ welcome gifts for Feyenoord manager Arne Slot, who’ll take charge of Liverpool upon Jurgen Klopp’s impending exit.
However, the newly-crowned Serie A champions have no intention of parting company with one of their most influential first-team stars and look to tie him down to a new contract instead.
In his recent public talking, Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti admitted all parties are eager to continue together despite recent speculation suggesting otherwise.
Separately from ongoing talks with Barella, the Nerazzurri are negotiating Latuaro Martinez’s extension to avoid being sucked into a transfer rumour mill this summer.
“Lautaro and Barella will certainly renew. Both on our part and on their part, there is a maximum predisposition to continue working together,” Zanetti said, as quoted by Tuttomercatoweb.
Liverpool completed four midfield signings last summer.
Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo moved to Merseyside in Klopp’s last-ditch attempt to dethrone Manchester City before calling time on his illustrious career at Anfield.
While the former duo lived up to expectations, the other two have blown hot and cold, making the Reds consider more midfield acquisitions ahead of 2024/25.
They’ve been on Barella’s tail for years, but as the ex-Cagliari man continues to make strides at Giuseppe Meazza, Inter are unwilling to give up his services.
At 27, he’s in his prime years, and this season, he has barely missed a game in Serie A, featuring 33 times as Simone Inzaghi’s side steamrolled to a landmark 20th Scudetto in record-breaking fashion.
Barella’s physical and technical qualities would fit Liverpool’s game plan, yet they’ll have to widen their search for a new box-to-box midfielder now that Inter have divulged their stance.
