With just 12 days to go until Jürgen Klopp’s squad reconvene for pre-season training, Liverpool appear to be no closer to adding a second summer signing to their ranks. The majority of the recent top-flight moves have featured a Saudi Arabian club. Many of the mooted big-name transfers – such as Declan Rice and Mason Mount – are still in the negotiation stage.
Just over a week ago, strong links emerged between Newcastle United and Inter Milan’s Nicolò Barella. The two sides were reported to be far apart in terms of the player’s valuation. The Magpies have since turned their attention to another Milan-based player in Sandro Tonali.
After the apparent Newcastle climb-down on Barella, could Liverpool be the ones to take advantage and sign one of the hottest properties in Europe?
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight Show, we asked experienced LFC journalist Neil Jones for his take on the rumours.
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Neil said:
“When you check it out with Liverpool and with sources around Liverpool, there’s not a great deal of encouragement for the idea of him moving.
“You had it with Mac Allister, before that with Bellingham, with Mason Mount. Barella – it’s more along the lines of, ‘Yeah, of course, he’s a good player, but no.’
“I’m just sceptical on the on the Barella one. I haven’t heard anything from the Liverpool end. Even to the level that he’s an option. It’s more been, ‘Yeah, it’s documented that we like him.’
“I’d be surprised if Liverpool took him. He’s a good player. Probably a year or two maybe too late for a Liverpool signing.
“They have to be looking at midfielders. They have to be signing a midfielder at least, probably two. I’ve been told that is still very much the priority. I just don’t get the impression it’s Barella.”
Redmen Reacts
Given that Newcastle’s initial valuation of around £50million for Barella was given such short shrift in Italy, Liverpool would potentially have to break their transfer record to sign him. The fees discussed for the majority of the players linked with a move to Anfield this summer have been in a lower price range, with Jürgen Klopp expected to divide his funds between several deals, possibly focusing on different areas of the pitch. With that in mind, Barella – who was hailed as ‘top class’ by Klopp himself – has never felt like the most likely incoming in this window.
The cool reception the club have given Neil seems to back that up. With a midfielder still ‘very much the priority’, hopefully, a signing will be announced when all terms have been agreed, as was the case with the signing of Cody Gakpo last Boxing Day. This is very much the Liverpool way, as opposed to the more public horse trading between Manchester United and Chelsea over Mason Mount.
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