Report: Inter Milan to hand Nicolo Barella new contract, amid Liverpool interest

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Any hopes Liverpool have of signing Italian midfielder, Nicolo Barella, could be dented as Inter Milan prepare to make two important moves.

Barella is on the radar of the Reds, with reports in the summer claiming both Liverpool and Spurs were keen on the Inter Milan star. At the time, Marca suggested a £60m bid could be enough to tempt Barella and Inter into a move.

However, Gazzetta dello Sport now claim that Barella is a priority for the Milan giants, who are set to offer him a new contract, as well as the captains armband. Inter hope that will be enough to convince Barella to stay put and, ultimately, end any talk of a move away.

Liverpool didn’t make a move in the market this summer to replace Gini Wijnaldum. They did, however, tie down Jordan Henderson to a new contract. Harvey Elliott has also emerged from the pack.

For now, then, it seems Liverpool will simply have to move on from Barella.

TBR’s View: Barella brilliant but always expensive and unlikely

The emergence of Elliott has allowed Liverpool to pause their search for a Wijnaldum replacement. But if Jurgen Klopp wants to keep this Reds side at the top of the tree, then he does need to add quality.

Barella would have suited the club. He’s a class act, and proved himself as such in the Euros. But with Inter now having sorted some of their immediate financial worries, it seems Barella is staying put.

Certainly, you can see why the Reds wanted him. But now, they must move on, and either in January or next summer, a midfielder in the mold of Barella will surely be a priority.