Liverpool fans should be buzzing about links with £80k-a-week ace who’s like Gerrard – TBR View

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Liverpool are reportedly planning a £60million bid for Nicolo Barella, according to Tuttomercatoweb.

The Italian outlet claims the Reds are keen “above all” to sign the Inter Milan and Italy star.

As well as Liverpool, Manchester United are apparently eyeing Barella too.

Admittedly, £60million is a lot of money to put forward this summer in wake of what’s happened to the football industry in the past 18 months.

However, if the report were to be true, Liverpool fans should be excited because Barella is a top, top player.

Liverpool currently have a large hole in their midfield following Georginio Wijnaldum’s departure on a free transfer.

And a player of Barella’s calibre would be great to fill that gap.

Barella: The story so far

The 24-year-old only joined Inter last year, paying Cagliari a reported £29.3m for his services.

However, he quickly made a huge impact at the San Siro, helping Antonio Conte’s side win the Serie A title.

Barella made 36 league appearances, scoring three goals and registering nine assists.

As if that wasn’t enough, he then helped Italy triumph at Euro 2020, the Azzurri winning their first major trophy since 2006.

Barella is reported to be on £80,000-a-week and is contracted to Inter until the summer of 2024.

“The Sardinian Steven Gerrard”

So, what is Barella’s style of play?

In 2019, Squawka wrote: “Barella is comfortable across various roles in midfield.

“Nominally a central midfielder, where he’s so far exclusively played for Italy, the native of Cagliari is also capable of playing behind the centre-forward or just in front of his team’s backline.”

This year, Breaking the Lines wrote: “Barella operates as a box-to-box midfielder in Conte’s 3-5-2 formation.

“More specifically, he operates in the right central midfield role or as a mezzala destra as it is known in Italy.

“The diminutive Sardinian is often positioned on the right side of the pitch.

“He is known for his strength and stamina but the (then) 23-year-old is also a fine technician with tidy skills on the ball.”

And all the way back in 2015, the Gazzetta dello Sport compared him to a player who has a special place in Anfield folklore.

“The Sardinian Steven Gerrard,” they wrote.