Liverpool Transfers: 5 midfielders to consider signing this summer

Inter Milan AM Nicolo Barella

Inter Milan won the Serie A title this season, breaking up Juventus’ monopoly over Italian football at nine straight Scudetti. The Nerazzurri have a well-rounded squad with a lot of great veteran players and a few youngsters who are already near the world-class level. Nicolo Barella in midfield is very much one of them, and he has stated his case as the best midfielder in Italy after Marco Verratti or the best overall midfielder in Serie A.

Barella is also 24 years old. He is a silky-smooth playmaker who can progress the ball and create gilt-edged chances with a slipped pass. Barella had three goals and seven assists in a breakout season under Antonio Conte, linking up wonderfully with the world-class striker partnership of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez.

Beyond the assist total, Barella averaged 1.3 key passes per game and 1.5 fouls drawn per game. Like Youri Tielemans, he’s going to increase his reputation this summer at the Euros, especially if his numbers for Italy in the UEFA Nations League are anything to go off of. He averaged 2.2 key passes per game for the national team.

Liverpool don’t play with an attacking midfielder, but they could in certain situations. Plus, Barella has shown he can play as a more traditional midfielder, much like Kevin de Bruyne can for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Barella won’t be cheap and is important to Inter, but there could be an opening due to Inter’s financial issues.