Liverpool think £80m player would be perfect next to Mac Allister, Klopp’s been raving about him.

Liverpool have identified Nicolo Barella as the perfect player to complement new signing Alexis Mac Allister.

Barella has long been rumoured to be on Liverpool’s radar and looks like he could be on the move this summer. According to The Independent, Inter Milan are facing ‘pressure to raise money.’ This could reportedly result in the 26-year-old being sold.

At the moment, it seems as though there are two clubs in with a shout of making that happen: Liverpool and Newcastle United. For the moment, Newcastle’s interest looks slightly more advanced. It’s claimed that the Magpies are currently locked in negotiations with Inter over a move. However, there could still be a long way to go.

Inter are said to be looking for a good profit on the £40m they spent on Barella back in 2019. As a result, they’re unwilling to entertain Newcastle’s £50m offer. In order to sell their star midfielder, the Italians are reportedly asking for more like £80m.

For Liverpool’s part, they don’t appear to have made any formal contact with Inter just yet. Despite that, it’s claimed that they see Barella as having the necessary energy to be the perfect foil for Mac Allister in their midfield.

That doesn’t mean they’ll take their interest further, though. The Reds are said to feel the Italy international’s asking price is currently ‘far too high.’ They’re reportedly looking at Nice’s Khephren Thuram as a ‘more affordable’ alternative.

Liverpool still in for Barella

This is a decidedly mixed update from a reliable source. On the one hand, it does look like Liverpool do hold genuine interest in Barella.

On the other, there’s absolutely no way they do business at anything like £80m.

To be fair, this is more or less the price Inter have consistently been quoting to sell Barella. Should no offers of that nature arrive, you can easily see them simply keeping hold of him.

Still, playing Devil’s Advocate, could interest in Barella be the reason Liverpool haven’t pushed to get the Thuram deal over the line.

That had looked virtually in the bag weeks ago, but has gone very quiet over recent days. It doesn’t feel out of the question that the Reds are hanging fire on Thuram to see how things play out with Barella.

This would be a risky strategy. Newcastle are also said to be interested in the Frenchman and Liverpool don’t want to let themselves get caught out.

From our point of view, we’d be happy with either signing. Thuram looks a real prospect and would – as noted – be the cheaper option. But there’s something special about Barella. Jurgen Klopp himself has even spoken glowingly in public about the player before [Eurosport]. If there’s a deal there to be done, Liverpool should push ahead with it. Not for £80m, though.