A trusted Italian source has named Liverpool as being among the “most interested” in Inter Milan ace Nicolo Barella, and the Reds have stepped up their scouting efforts in 2023.

Arthur Melo recently confirmed he’ll leave Liverpool once his loan spell concludes at season’s end. A £32m option to buy won’t be triggered, meaning the midfield exits look set to rise to four.

James Milner will join Brighton as a free agent, while new contracts are unlikely to be offered to Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

A midfield overhaul is thus a necessity and no longer a luxury. After pulling the plug on pursuing Jude Bellingham due to the escalating cost, Liverpool have begun to accelerate alternative moves.

Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister features high on their radar and Liverpool can secure a sizeable discount if sending a much-loved star the other way. However, today’s update regards Inter Milan and Italy standout, Nicolo Barella.

The 26-year-old looks tailor-made for a Klopp midfield given his incredible engine, versatility and technical abilities.

Gazzetta dello Sport previously claimed Barella has been closely observed by Liverpool’s scout for the region, Paul Goldrick. Goldrick is responsible for sizing up talent from Italy, Switzerland, Serbia and Croatia.

However, Barella has more recently come under the watchful eye of chief scout Barry Hunter. Clearly, he’s a player the Reds are taking a significant interest in.

Now, the trusted Gianluca Di Marzio has revealed Liverpool recently scouted Barella during Inter’s 3-1 victory over Lazio on Sunday, April 30.

When speaking to Sky Italia, Di Marzio also suggested Barella will once again come under Liverpool’s watchful eye during the first leg of Inter’s Champions League semi-final clash with AC Milan on Wednesday night.

Barella gets another chance to impress

After noting Man Utd and Chelsea’s interest in goalkeeper Andre Onana when asked who English sides will be watching, Di Marzio then said: “The other player is Nicolo Barella, because I can say Liverpool is looking forward to him.

“They came here to see him face Lazio. I don’t know if Liverpool will get him, I don’t know if Inter will sell him, but I can say Liverpool is one of the most interested clubs looking at Barella.

“It’s normal because Barella is the Italian guy with skills, with the mind, with technical ability, everything. He can play in every league.”

Inter are known to be in need of raising around €50m through player sales to balance the books this summer.

Barella, Onana and right-back Denzel Dumfries are prime candidates who could recoup that sum in one fell swoop.

Reports out of Italy in late-April claimed Liverpool were readying a ‘super offer’ to test Inter’s resolve over Barella.

Varying outlets have differed on how much Barella might cost. However, the common consensus is he’ll fall somewhere in the £50m-£70m range.

Barella would not come with the guarantee of being proven in the Premier League like Mac Allister or Mason Mount would, for example. However, he’s consistently shone in Serie A and has the individual honours to back it up.

Barella has been named in four successive Serie A teams of the season and was named the league’s best midfielder for the 2020/21 campaign.

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