Liverpool are interested in signing Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella but as per the latest reports, Premier League rivals MCFC could join this transfer race very soon.
Manchester City are at risk of losing Bernardo Silva who’s wanted by clubs like PSG and FC Barcelona and even though the Cityzens have offered him a new two-year contract, there are fears that the midfielder could head out in the coming weeks.
Barcelona are one of the favourites to land Silva and Guardiola does not want to lose both Gundogan and Silva to the Blaugrana in the same transfer window. However, if Bernardo Silva was to leave then MCFC will try and sign Nicolo Barella as a replacement.
Which club has a better chance of securing the services of the Italian midfielder?
Liverpool have been linked with Nicolo Barella for a really long time and now that they are going to lose Fabinho and Henderson, Klopp has asked his management to go after the Italy international.
However, Man City’s potential entry is going to be a big blow for the Anfield outfit because they won’t be playing in the Champions League next season and without top-tier European football it will be really hard to convince Barella to join them. He reached the UCL finals last season with the Nerazzurri so there’s no way he will want to remain out of the Champions League next campaign.
Newcastle United had enquired about the midfielder last month but Inter were demanding around £80 million for him whereas the Magpies were not ready to pay more than £50 million. £80 million will be a steep price for Liverpool as well but they have lost several midfielders this summer so there’s no other option but to go out and spend big.
City’s move for Nicolo Barella will fully depend on Bernardo Silva’s future. If the Portugal international decides to join Barcelona then MCFC will surely make a move for the Inter man, otherwise, Liverpool will be all on their own.
Will Inter decide to sell Nicolo Barella?
Inter had paid €32.5 million to sign Nicolo Barella permanently from Cagliari back in 2020 and his contract with the club expires in 2026 so the Italians are in no hurry to offload him.
Inter have put an £80 million price tag on his shoulders but only to fend away the interested clubs as they have no intention of selling him right now. As per some reports, the Inter hierarchy believes Nicolo Barella is a future captain of the club and he’s far too important to the squad to be sold off.
Liverpool and MCFC will have to really knock hard on Inter’s door if they are serious about signing the midfielder but the English clubs have crazy amounts of money so it won’t be a surprise if one of these clubs is ready to put £80-85 million on the table.
Neither of these two clubs have made any sort of formal moves for the 26-year-old but it will be interesting to see how Barella reacts when one of them tries to lure him to the English Premier League.
