Manchester City are reportedly keeping tabs on Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella, with Liverpool strongly linked with a move for the Italian international.
According to 90min, Pep Guardiola’s sides are monitoring the 26-year-old as a potential replacement for Bernardo Silva, with Bayern Munich maestro Joshua Kimmich also an option for the English giants.
Journalist Rudy Galetti recently claimed that Liverpool were willing to make a move for Barella, with the prospect of this happening now likely with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson set to leave for Saudi Arabia this week.
However, this latest update could be a blow for the Reds given the appeal City now have for players like Barella, especially with Liverpool not even competing in the UEFA Champions League next season.
Lauded by Steven Gerrard as a ‘world-class’ talent, Barella under Guardiola is an easy matchup to imagine. And City’s interest in the midfielder could not have come at a worse time for Liverpool.
Indeed, the Reds are desperate to add to their midfield this summer with Henderson and Fabinho now on the move, and Barella could have been a dream replacement for the two as well as a long-term addition to Liverpool’s plans.
Liverpool can’t allow Barella to end up at Manchester City
It’s clear that Barella is a prime target for Liverpool given how long the midfielder has been linked with the Anfield side. And as a result, the Reds simply can’t allow the Italian maestro to end up at City.
As we know, the midfielder is good enough to start for City and to replace a player as key as Silva at the club, which is why Liverpool have to be alert over the 26-year-old Inter star.
With Henderson and Fabinho soon to leave, the money will be there for Liverpool to make a move for Barella, a proposition the Reds should strongly consider in the coming weeks.
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