Liverpool lead Man Utd in race for £69m star as Klopp offers to ‘double’ money to rediscover ‘electricity’

Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella has a number of options in the summer transfer window with Liverpool prepared to double his wages in an effort to sign him, according to reports.

The Italy international has emerged as one of the best midfielders in world football in recent years and helped Inter to a third-placed finish in Serie A and a Champions League final appearance in the season just gone.

And his form is attracting interest from Premier League clubs with Newcastle United becoming a unexpected potential suitor for the 26-year-old midfielder.

The Daily Telegraph claimed last week that the Magpies are prepared to spend ‘the majority of their transfer budget’ on the Italian and Leicester City’s James Maddison, with the Geordies ‘pushing hard to complete a sensational deal’.

He would become their ‘highest earner’ with a deal described as ‘reachable’ by the newspaper, as Eddie Howe looks to bring in marquee signings.

Manchester United have also been mentioned as a potential destination with Italian publication Gazetta dello Sport insisting that a move to Old Trafford is seen as ‘far more attractive’ to Barella than Newcastle.

There have been ‘interested phone calls’ from Man Utd to Inter Milan with Barella’s agent ‘inevitably pricked towards the Premier League’.

And now Gazetta dello Sport have also been speaking about interest from Man Utd’s rivals Liverpool ‘at the head of the band’ of suitors as Jurgen Klopp looks to rediscover his side’s ‘electricity’ on the pitch.

Liverpool are one club who could ‘practically double’ Barella’s salary this summer and the Merseysiders would need to pay at least €80m (£69m) to persuade Inter to do business.

Although Barella has shown little sign that he wants to leave, Inter Milan could start to worry ‘if the British interest were to become more pressing’ and ‘if the courtship, especially that of Klopp, has reached his ears’,

And transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed Liverpool as a club to “keep an eye on” if Barella decides to leave Serie A in the summer transfer window.

Speaking on his own YouTube channel, Romano said: “On Barella, I would also keep an eye on Liverpool because Liverpool have always been following the player.

“Jurgen Klopp has always been a big fan of Barella, and so let’s see what happens at Liverpool.”

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