Liverpool are at least £20m away from signing ‘fantastic’ player, they’re nowhere near right now – journalist

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Liverpool will have to pay at least £70m if they want to sign Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella this summer.

The Reds have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old as they look to re-tool their midfield in the off-season. But according to Inter-based journalist Nima Tavallaey Roodsari, Liverpool’s current valuation is miles away from the Nerazzurri’s asking price.

“It’s Liverpool who value Barella at £50m, which is very wide of the mark,” Roodsari who works for Sempre Inter, is quoted as saying on Twitter. “It does not make a difference if Liverpool value Barella at £5 or £500 – it’s Inter’s call, they’re the ones who set his price. Barella has a long-term contract at the club and is happy in Milan. The story regarding this low price has been planted to generate pressure.

“Of course, it’s not unfathomable that Barella ends up at Liverpool – but they will have to pay what Inter want, and what they want is a much higher price – we’re talking about £70m at the very least. Inter won’t be bullied.

“Ask Spurs fans about how their pursuit of Alessandro Bastoni went down last summer. Liverpool are interested in Barella – but the notion that it would be just £50m does not correspond with reality.”

Barella not high on Liverpool’s list

So far, the only reports suggesting that Barella could be available on a cut-price deal have originated in Italy. As a result, it seems strange to suggest that these were a Liverpool ‘plant.’

Either way, it seems more than likely that if the Reds really do want Barella, then they’re going to have to pay a premium for him.

From what we know about Liverpool’s current summer budget, it seems unlikely that they’ll do that. A complete midfielder recently labelled as ‘fantastic’ by Jamie Carragher, the Inter man could well be worth the money. But with a wider rebuild needed for the Reds, we don’t see them paying £70m on any one player this summer.

If they do, it’ll have to be for one a with a little less miles on the clock than Barella. Yes, he’s only twenty-six and reaching his prime, but Liverpool don’t tend to put big money towards anyone over the age of twenty-five.

For all of these reasons, and several more, we don’t see how Nicolo ends up at Anfield for next season. There are much more get-able targets for the Reds.

If Jurgen Klopp is convinced though – and some reports say that he is – then it shouldn’t yet be totally ruled out.

Midfield is very much on the agenda for Liverpool this summer and Barella is one of the best about. But all the signs indicate that there’s not too much chance that this one gets done.