Chelsea ‘eyeing’ £77m transfer involving player Jurgen Klopp thinks is ‘top-class’

Chelsea could be interested in another big-money signing next year, according to reports. The Blues spent significantly again during the summer window, adding to their huge spending total under Todd Boehly.

Chelsea did manage to bring in more than £300million of incomings through the sales of Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and others, but Mauricio Pochettino was also handed a number of new weapons, including Nicolas Jackson, Moises Caicedo and many others. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea are just as bold in the winter window, with Pochettino already needing to turn things around after a disappointing start to the season, but they will almost certainly spend again next summer.

According to CaughtOffside, the Blues may already be looking to next year, potentially lining up a deal for Inter Milan star Nicolo Barella. Barella has been a key player for Inter over recent years, helping them reach the Champions League final last season, and Newcastle United were said to have made an approach over the summer.

In the end, Barella stayed put, and the report now claims Chelsea and Liverpool are interested ahead of the summer as they look to add a little more creativity in midfield. It’s claimed Inter could demand around £77million for Barella, who remains under contract until 2026. Newcastle could also circle back for the Italy international next summer.

Barella was once described as a ‘top-class’ player by Jurgen Klopp, who is clearly a fan. Pundit Jamie Carragher has said of the midfielder: “I think he’s probably one of the best in Europe playing in that tucked in, right-sided central midfield position. He’s box-to-box and gets goals from there.

“We saw how outstanding he was for his national team in winning the European Championships. He’s a player who can open things up, he gets in there, but that inside right position now is so important in football and can you make runs from that position? He makes runs ahead of the striker and he’s a huge goal threat.

“Any top team needs to have goals from midfield. It’ll be really interesting if he actually stays at Inter, but you think one day would he go the Premier League - or maybe one of the Spanish giants - because I certainly think he has the ability to do so.”