In a recent report, Tuttosport claimed that Chelsea are among several clubs hoping to land Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella this summer. It is believed that the Blues could face competition from Liverpool and Manchester United in pursuit of the Italy international in this off-season (via Tuttosport).
Barella’s Outstanding Form In Italian Football
The 24-year-old had a brilliant campaign at San Siro as he produced several influential displays at the heart of the Inter midfield. Barella featured in 46 matches for the Italian club last season, netting three goals and grabbing 13 assists on all fronts.
The Cagliari-born talent gave a good account of himself by averaging 1.6 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 1.0 shots, 1.3 key passes and 1.0 dribbles per game in Serie A. He even distributed possession relatively well after completing 84.9% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
The 29-time Italy international is currently playing some of the best football of his young career. Hence, it is no surprise that some of the top English clubs including Chelsea are showing interest in bringing him to the Premier League. The Blues should be encouraged by the player’s excellent form for Italy in the UEFA European Championships recently, so it makes sense for Thomas Tuchel to engineer a move to land him during this summer transfer window.
Will Barella Be A Good Choice For Chelsea This Summer?
Barella has a wide range of passes in his locker and can spread the ball quite well from midfield. He has got the eye to play a decisive pass in the attacking third and deserves a lot of credit for picking up 13 assists for Inter Milan last season. The Italian sensation can even contribute by scoring the odd goal from time to time but needs to work on improving his shooting from long range. He might also struggle to cope with the physical nature of English football if Chelsea can win the race for his services.
Barella is full of energy at the centre of the park and has now developed a winning habit after helping Inter secure the Serie A title and then going on to win the Euros with Italy earlier this month. He ticks all the right boxes in terms of what Tuchel looks for in his midfielders.
The Italian star is only going to get better with each season, so Chelsea would be wise to move in for him before the start of the new campaign. He will offer some healthy competition for Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic at Stamford Bridge next season. Furthermore, Barella could be an ideal long-term replacement for N’Golo Kante who is edging close towards the twilight years of his career. All in all, the Italian’s creativity and work rate make him a great choice for Tuchel to pursue in this off-season.
