Liverpool to offer Naby Keita in swap deal bid for 25-year-old midfielder

Is Liverpool’s summer transfer window coming to end? Reports today suggest the Reds have unfinished business in the market and are exploring a swap deal bid involving Naby Keita.

According to Calcio Mercato, Jurgen Klopp is ready to launch a bid for Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella, with Naby Keita heading the other way to avoid paying the £77 million price tag the Italian giants have put on his head.

Barella has been a long-term target of the Liverpool heirachy and is a key cog in Simone Inzaghi’s silky Inter setup that challenged Liverpool on all fronts in last season’s Uefa Champions League.

The Italian international appeared 48 times for Inter during their last campaign, scoring four goals and assisting 13 times.

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Barella has been linked with a move to Anfield for some time now, adding fuel to the fire that the 25-year-old is certainly on Jurgen Klopp’s transfer radar.

The midfielder has a never say die attitude to everything he does on the pitch but it’s his pressing and work rate that is his most desirable attribute when considering him as an option for Liverpool’s midfield.

It’s clear that Liverpool need to bolster their engine room in the middle of the park this summer and Barella would be more than a suitable alternative to reported target Jude Bellingham.

Nevertheless, players moving from Italy have failed to adapt to life in the Premier League in the past and if Liverpool are to swap Keita alongside a considerable transfer fee, this is something that needs to be considered.