Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella is a name on Liverpool's list of midfield targets for the summer transfer window, according to a report.
The Italy international has become one of the leading players in his position since joining the Nerazzurri and is being strongly linked with a move to the Premier League.
Barella initially joined Inter on loan from Cagliari in the 2019-20 campaign, and his move was made permanent for a fee of £28.8m the following year.
The 26-year-old has 17 goals and 41 assists under his belt from 165 games in a Nerazzurri shirt, including six strikes and seven assists from 30 appearances this season.
A mainstay of the Inter engine room, Barella was a driving force in the team's Serie A title win of 2020-21, after which he shone for Italy en route to the Euro 2020 crown.
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Inter can afford to drive a hard bargain for Barella, who is under contract at San Siro until 2026, but according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Liverpool hold a firm interest.
The Reds will be fighting an uphill battle to prise the midfielder away from Inter, though, as the report states that he is happy at San Siro and is on board with Simone Inzaghi's project.
Furthermore, Barella has an added incentive to stay for the 2023-24 season, where he should be promoted to vice-captain behind Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez.
However, the report states that an offer of €80m (£70.8m) could still tempt Inter into a sale, and Liverpool are expected to spend big on at least one new lynchpin in the summer.
As things stand, all of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave on free transfers this summer, although the former could be in line for an extension.
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Arthur is also due to return to Juventus when his loan spell comes to an end, although the Brazilian has been restricted to just 13 minutes in a Liverpool shirt this season due to injury anyway.
With Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara also struggling for consistency as they enter the latter stages of their careers, Jurgen Klopp is in need of a significant engine room refresh.
Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham is still rumoured to be at the top of their shortlist, but his £132m asking price could still prove too steep, even with the promise of funds from Fenway Sports Group.
The Reds have also been linked with a swoop for Ryan Gravenberch, who has managed just one Bundesliga start for Bayern Munich since joining from Ajax last summer.
Liverpool moved up to seventh in the Premier League table courtesy of a goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday, and they are next in action at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday.
Ben Knapton
