Gini Wijnaldum Replacement Transfer Rumour Update: Inter Milan Midfielder Linked

Another day, another link with a midfielder touted to be the player chosen to replace Gini Wijnaldum for Liverpool. The recent murmurings come out of Italy, with Calciomercato saying that the Reds have made contact with Inter Milan for Nicolo Barella.

While Barella plans for Italy’s semifinal against Spain in the coming days, behind the scenes, he could be headed for a move to Merseyside when the competition ends.

The 24-year-old scored three goals and assisted 12 more in Inter’s title-winning season. Roberto Mancini has put his trust in him as well, starting him in all five of Italy’s Euro matches so far. That trust was rewarded on Friday when Barella scored the first of Italy’s two goals against Belgium and assisted Lorenzo Insigne’s second, which helped grant them passage into the semis.

Liverpool will be looking for a player who can slip into the role left by Wijnaldum but who also remains fit. Liverpool’s midfield options of Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Fabinho were a rotating carousel of long term injuries last season. This made it hard for the team to gain any consistency in a very frustrating season.

Barella made 32 starts and 36 appearances in the league last season. If he could keep that good luck and good form, he’d be a good addition to the team. However, Barella currently has three years left on his five year contract with Inter, and his Euro performance will make him in demand this summer. The combination may make it too costly to try and bring him to Anfield, if Klopp really is interested in the player.