According to reports, Jurgen Klopp has asked Liverpool to sign Inter Milan standout Nicolo Barella, who was pursued by Newcastle earlier this summer.

As expected, Liverpool have been busy in the transfer market already this summer. They moved quickly to sign World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for £35m.

They then turned their attention to Dominik Szoboszlai, who has joined Liverpool after the Premier League giants activated the £60m release clause in his contract at RB Leipzig.

The Reds could sign one more midfielder before the transfer window closes, with a defensive midfielder likely to be preferred by the club’s hierarchy.

Barella was involved in 19 goals across all competitions during the 2022/23 campaign and he was heavily linked with Newcastle before they signed Sandro Tonali from AC Milan.

The Italy international has also been linked with Liverpool and while it has rightly been assumed that they are no longer interested in him following the arrival of Szoboszlai, but Spanish outlet Fichajes are reporting that they are ‘seeking to add’ him to their squad following a ‘request’ by Klopp.

Inter Milan are ‘willing to sell Barella if they receive an offer of 60 million euros’ and Liverpool ‘could be willing to pay’ this amount.

It is said to be one of Klopp’s ‘great desires’ to make Barella the third and final cog of his summer rebuild in midfield.

This should be taken with a pinch of salt, as it is being widely reported by more reliable outlets that Southampton teenager Romeo Lavia is actually their main midfield target for the rest of this summer. 

Football Insider are reporting that ‘Southampton are holding out for top money for their best players as Liverpool continue to negotiate a possible deal for Lavia. They add.

‘A well-placed source has told Football Insider that midfield duo Lavia and James Ward-Prowse are “fully expected” to return to the Premier League with a move away from St Mary’s Stadium.

‘However, it is believed Liverpool are only currently willing to offer around £40million for Lavia as negotiations continue – while Southampton are believed to be holding out for a figure closer to £50million.

‘A host of other Premier League giants, including Chelsea and Arsenal, have also been linked with the 19-year-old.

‘Southampton are keen to maximise the Belgium international’s value as Man City will be entitled to 20% of any fee received for his services. That clause was negotiated as part of the reported £10.5million deal which brought Lavia to Southampton last summer.’

[football365]