Liverpool and Chelsea are set to battle a trio of top Serie A clubs in the summer pursuit of highly-rated Cagliari Calcio midfielder Nicolo Barella.
Italian publication La Nuova have claimed that Liverpool and Chelsea are showing interest in Cagliari Calcio midfielder Nicolo Barella. The Premier League duo are set to rival Juventus, Inter Milan and AS Roma, who are all interested in the Italian youngster.
Nicolo Barella is a Cagliari youth product who has finally broken through into the first-team setup this season. In fact, in more ways than one, the present campaign has been a true breakout season for Barella, who has become one of the first names on the club’s team sheet in his first full Serie A season with the club as a part of the first-team.
His influence in the middle of the park can be mapped by the fact that his side managed to win just 1 of the 5 league games Barella did not feature in. The player is yet to score his first senior Serie A goal but his displays have already piqued the interest of top European clubs.
Juventus, Inter Milan and AS Roma are all interested in the player. Juventus, especially, are eyeing reinforcements to their midfield and Barella could very well form the core for the future while also being able to contribute to the present fortunes of the club as well.
Chelsea and Liverpool ‘spying’ on Cagliari young gun Nicolo Barella #LFC https://t.co/Kq1H6MJLKM pic.twitter.com/HB0R3J187B
— LFC Report (@LFC_Fanly) March 16, 2017
Liverpool are always on the lookout to invest in the future of potential superstars and with midfielders, Lucas Leiva and Emre Can primed to leave the club in the summer, Jurgen Klopp could do with the addition of a natural central midfielder who can play the role of a holding midfielder as well as an attacking midfielder as well.
Chelsea, too, are looking for energetic additions to the central midfield for the next season. Nemanja Matic has been linked with Barcelona recently and Antonio Conte could use his Italian influence to lure Barella to Stamford Bridge.
Barella himself would love to work under Conte – who is widely regarded as one of the best Italian managers of the time. The 20-year-old is currently contracted to Cagliari Calcio until 2021, which gives the club the upper hand in any potential negotiations.
But, with the stature of clubs circling the talent, it would be hard for Cagliari to keep a hold of the player for long.