Liverpool reportedly battling Arsenal for a player compared to Steven Gerrard

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The race is reportedly hotting up for Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United all considering a move – for a player who was once compared to Steven Gerrard by an Italian newspaper.

The 16-time Italy international has thrown himself onto the shortlists of the Premier League trio and other European heavyweights – by shining under Antonio Conte at Inter Milan, though his permanent move only came about in the summer.

Clocking up 50 appearances for Inter, he joined on a loan with an obligation to buy last summer. Football Italia claimed that including bonuses, Inter will spend up to £45million on Barella. Expensive, but it seems money well spent.

In his 50 games, he has had a hand in 16 goals from the middle of the park – scoring four and creating 12. FCInterNews have claimed that 23-year-old Barella is a target for Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool could do with a midfielder in the next couple of windows, with the average age of Jurgen Klopp’s engine room getting older. But a report from Gazzetta Dello Sport in 2015 will surely convince Liverpool, as they compared him to Gerrard.

In a piece entitled,  ‘The Sardinian Steven Gerrard’, Gazzetta described him in 2015 as a player with: ‘Strong personality and winning spirit. On the pitch he is a driving force and, both in the match and in training, he tries to give his best .’

TBR’s view – Liverpool really need a younger midfielder

Curtis Jones is coming through while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita both still have a number of years before turning 30. But James Milner, Gini Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson are now all 30 or older.

Thiago will join that list in April of next year. Liverpool need a younger midfielder to give them a bit of energy in the middle of the park and Barella’s style of play – compared to Gerrard – would be perfect for the Premier League champions.

However, they will have to move quick – with FCInterNews claiming Inter want to increase his £43,000-a-week wages to £70,000 a week.