When AC Milan and Inter Milan contest the first leg of an explosive Champions League semi-final on Wednesday evening, the eyes of the footballing world will be fixated on events at the San Siro.
Those from Liverpool will be no different as Kopites are expected to be drawn to Derby della Madonnina and the performance of combative central midfielder Nicolo Barella, who has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield in recent years.
Since making the move to the San Siro from Calgari in 2020, the 26-year-old Italian international has established himself as one the most complete operators in the Serie A and has, according to Goal.com, admirers at Anfield in both Jurgen Klopp and assistant manager Pep Lijnders.
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Too, it is no secret that Liverpool are planning a substantial overhaul of their midfield later this summer with Mason Mount, Alex Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Conor Gallagher and Barella all named as possible alternatives to long-standing target Jude Bellingham.
The 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund star had long been expected to be at the centre of a summer tug-of-war between Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid. However, that was until Anfield officials deemed any possible deal as too expensive and ultimately decided to launch a more rounded approach to their immediate transfer business.
So far this term Barella has fired eight goals and nine assists in 45 appearances for Inter Milan and helped his side earn a place in the last four of the Champions League for the first time since 2010. Thirteen years ago, Jose Mourinho's side defeated Barcelona over two legs before going on to claim their third European Cup by defeating Bayern Munich in the final; applying the gloss on a historic treble for the Nerazzurri.
This time around, however, the domestic picture isn't as pretty for Inter Milan who find themselves locked in a tense late-season battle for Champions qualification. And a failure to secure a return to UEFA's premier competition for next the next campaign could force the Italian giants to part ways with Barella this summer.
That's according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, who claim the Nerazzurri could be made to change their non-negotiable stance on selling one of their prized assets this summer if they are unable to secure a place in UEFA's premier competition and the finances that go with.
Gazzetta note that the Reds' interest in the 26-year-old has "grown" since those at Anfield took the decision to pause their pursuit of Bellingham. The report also claims that Paris Saint-Germain are interested in Barella and could sacrifice Marco Verrattithis summer in order to pursue a deal.
"In any event, the Nerazzurri would consider Barella to be “hands off” in most cases, but things could change should they miss out on qualification for next season’s Champions League," reads the Italian publication, Gazzetta. "The revenues from Europe’s top club competition are nothing short of vital for the Nerazzurri’s financial plan.
"Accordingly, even with the team’s unexpected run to the semifinal of this season’s competition, without participation in the group stage next time around there would be a very real chance of the Nerazzurri finding themselves essentially forced into sacrificing Barella."
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