Liverpool FC really want to sign a sensational £70m star now they’re flying out to see him tonight

Liverpool are the club most keen to chase Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella this summer.

Barella has been linked with a move to Anfield for several years but has never felt particularly close to leaving Italy. But now, as journalist Gianluca Di Marzio told Sky Sports, interest from Liverpool will increase.

He claims the Reds saw the 26-year-old live at the end of April. After presumably being impressed, they would be back in Milan for the Champions League semi-finals tonight. “I can tell that Liverpool are looking forward to seeing him [tonight]. They were here at the Milan stadium to watch him play against Lazio [on 30 April],” reported Di Marzio.

“I don’t know if Liverpool will sign him, I don’t know if Inter will sell him, but I can say that Liverpool are one of the most interested clubs in looking for Barella.”

Liverpool in photo for Barella

While Liverpool look for the right solutions to the midfield problem, Barella’s name has been mentioned several times. A gifted all-round player, it’s easy to see why the Reds would be drawn to the Italy national team.

But as Di Marzio suggests, there are many pitfalls in this. Since joining in 2019, Barella has been one of Inter’s best and most distinguished players. Selling it would be very unpopular with fans.

Although it was reported that the Nerazzurri could be forced to concede him, Barella has also already received a £70million prize. With the best will in the world, it’s not a fee that Liverpool are going to pay properly

There should also be some slight reservations about his desire to join Liverpool. Perhaps more than in any other major European league, Italian players are often reluctant to leave their home country to play abroad. There were claims that Barella would fall into this category.

As a result, we still feel like it’s a real outdoor shot. Right now, it looks much more likely that Liverpool will sign Alexis Mac Allister and Mason Mount. Ironically, it could be that a good performance from Barella tonight will push the prospect of a move to Liverpool even further.

Still, Di Marzio tends to know what he’s talking about, especially when it comes to Italian clubs. For example, he was the first to break the news of Arthur’s transfer in September. So maybe there is still something. Either way, a few Reds will no doubt be keeping a close eye on Nicolo and what he could bring to Liverpool tonight at the San Siro.

Also.. 

The Liverpool jersey numbers that will be available to new signings this summer

Liverpool could have some big squad numbers for new signings this summer, with four of the traditional 1-11 available.

The Reds are expected to make major changes in the upcoming transfer window, not least as six senior players are expected to leave when their contracts expire.

At present, Roberto Firmino (No. 9), James Milner (No. 7), Naby Keita (No. 8), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (No. 15), Adrian (No. 13) and mercenary Arthur (No. 29) leaves on July 1st.

In the meantime, further departures could follow as players move elsewhere, with Jurgen Klopp possibly signing two or three midfielders, alongside possible additions to the ranks of goalkeeper and defence.

So which shirt numbers will be available from this summer? The most attractive could be numbers 7, 8 and 9, vacated by Milner, Keita and Firmino respectively.

They are all iconic shirts in Liverpool history, with a weight of anticipation as to who will wear them in the near future – as Keita discovered while struggling as the heir to Steven Gerrard’s No.8.

The 10-a-shirt remains vacant following Sadio Mane’s move to Bayern Munich last summer, while the 12, 13, 15 and 16 are also available or will be available soon.

The other numbers available for signatures are 24, 25, 29, 30 and 31.

There’s a chance those already on the team could change their numbers ahead of the new campaign, with Darwin Nunez likely targeting No. 9 and possibly Luis Diaz No. 7. Alexis Mac Allister currently wears No.10 at Brighton, while another target, Mason Mount, could look to take No.8 should he join.

Liverpool squad numbers so far for next season

1.Alison

2.Joe Gomez

3. Fabino

4. Virgil van Dijk

5.Abraham Connor

6. Thiago

7. Not applicable

8. Not applicable

9. NVT

10. Nvt

11. Mohammed Salah

12. Nvt

13. Nvt

14. Jordan Henderson

15. Not available

16. Not available

17. Curtis Jones

18. Cody Steel

19. Harvey Elliot

20. Diego Jota

21. Coastal Linguistics

22. Calvin Ramsay

23. Louis Diaz

24. N / A

25. Sans objet

26.AndyRobertson

27. Darwin Nunez

28.Fabio Carvalho

29 N / A

30. Not applicable

31. Not applicable

32. Joel Matip

42. Bobby Clark

43 Stefan Bajcetic

46. ​​Rhys Williams

47. Nat Phillips

50. Ben Doak

62. Caoimhin Kelleher

63. OwenBeek

65. Leighton Clarkson

66. Trent Alexander-Arnold

72. Sepp van den Berg

78. Giarell Quansah

80. Tyler Morton

84. Conor Bradley

88. Luke Chambers

89. Billy Kumumehio

94. Melkamu Frauendorf

95. Harvey Davis

97. Marcello Pitaluga