Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher has warned his former club they might have to splash out an added £10m on Nicolo Barella due to his ongoing Champions League heroics with Inter Milan.
Barella and the Italian giants rubber-stamped their place in the semi-finals with an aggregate victory against Benfica and will now go toe-to-toe with city rivals AC Milan for a spot in the Istanbul showpiece. That comes as Liverpool aim to revise transfer plans with Barella claimed to be on their shopping list.
Interest from Anfield in Borussia Dortmund sensation Jude Bellingham has been shelved due to the financial costs involved amid heavy competition for his signature. As a result, the Reds will instead spend their budget on several additions rather than one big-money arrival this summer.
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Barella, 26, is among several mooted alternatives. Other names who continue to be linked include Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo (Brighton), Mason Mount from Chelsea and Bayern Munich starlet Ryan Gravenberch, who refused to be drawn on suggestions he could move to Anfield.
But what about Italy midfielder Barella? Carragher labelled him "fantastic" for his performance across the two quarter-final legs against Benfica - but admits that might have come at a cost to potential suitors.
Speaking about Barella while on CBS Sports Golazo duty, Carragher said: "He was fantastic. There's actually talk of him being linked to my club Liverpool for next season, so that's an extra £10million we might have to pay on top of the price tag if it does happen."
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