It is no big secret that a lot of Liverpool’s struggles this season have stemmed from the fact the midfield looks spent. Fighting on all fronts and playing 63 games last year has clearly taken its toll on the side.
There are other issues that need to be resolved like the collapse of Liverpool’s forward press, but that kind of thing can be coached and is likely more representative of the Reds' new-look attack slowly adapting to the Premier League and Jurgen Klopp’s tactics.
Unfortunately, the decline in midfield isn’t something that can be saved through coaching alone. The legs of certain stars are not what they used to be, and with much of Liverpool’s recent success built upon an industrious and relentless midfield, that’s a serious problem. Several players in that department are set to leave this summer too, when their current contracts expire.
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That is part of the reason FSG have called off the pursuit of Bellingham, as with a complete refresh of the midfield needed, spending the vast majority – or entirety – of the funds on a single player may have put that rebuild in jeopardy.
With that in mind, the potential acquisition of Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella would be a smart one as the Italian has all the right characteristics to help rejuvenate this Liverpool midfield.
Since the Bellingham news broke, Barella has emerged as a potential name Klopp could turn to as an alternative. Recent reports from the Italian media have suggested an asking price of around £60/65m could land him. There is also speculation that the Reds are very much interested.
The Inter man operates primarily on the right side of the pitch as a box-to-box type player heavily involving himself in progressing play, attacks and helping with defensive work when called upon.
With 3.03 progressive carries a game – in the top 5% in Europe this season – and 6.9 progressive passes per 90, Barella would be instrumental in helping Liverpool move up the pitch and reassert a level of dominance in games, a trait lost this last year.
It isn’t just the Italian’s impressive engine that would boost Liverpool’s chances next season though - as his passing has created an impressive 1.9 goalscoring chances per 90 this term, double that of Liverpool’s current right-sided midfielder Henderson.
However, for all his dynamism, passing and general presence on the pitch, his defensive numbers have room for improvement, and to get the most out of him, Klopp would need to give him the freedom to bomb up and down the right side and supplement him with a defensively minded player at the base of midfield.
While fans have every right to be disappointed in the news that Bellingham won’t be playing in Liverpool red next year, Barella is undoubtedly an upgrade on what is currently available.
And it would seem that Barella already has the Klopp seal of approval, with the German saying back in 2022: “He is a good player, a really good player. I like him a lot. He has all the things you want from a midfield player – he’s aggressive, he’s technically (good) he can run for ages and all these kinds of things.
“So he’s a top-class player.”
While more reinforcements will be absolutely vital for Liverpool to see any kind of success next season, a midfield with Barella in it would go some way in bringing back the intensity that’s so synonymous with Klopp sides of the recent past.
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