---
title: "Manchester United: Erik ten Hag wants Nicolo Barella at Old Trafford"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/man-united-erik-ten-hag-nicolo-barella-transfer-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Manchester United News"
published: "2023-02-28T20:45:28Z"
modified: "2023-02-28T20:45:28Z"
---

# Manchester United: Erik ten Hag wants Nicolo Barella at Old Trafford

**[Manchester United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-news/) manager [Erik ten Hag](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/erik-ten-hag/) wants the club to sign Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella, according to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-erik-ten-hag-wants-man-united-to-beat-man-city-to-nicolo-barella-deal-amid-huge-claim/).**

### The Lowdown: Barella profiled

Barella is [primarily](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolo-barella/profil/spieler/255942) a central midfielder who can also be deployed in holding or attacking midfield roles. The 26-year-old is valued at a career-high €70m (£61.6m) by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolo-barella/marktwertverlauf/spieler/255942) and has made [42](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolo-barella/profil/spieler/255942) senior appearances for Italy.

He has been with Inter since 2020 and has made [166](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolo-barella/leistungsdaten/spieler/255942) appearances for the Serie A giants, [31](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolo-barella/leistungsdaten/spieler/255942) of which have come during the current campaign.

### The Latest: Man United interested in Barella

[Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-erik-ten-hag-wants-man-united-to-beat-man-city-to-nicolo-barella-deal-amid-huge-claim/) shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding United and Barella. They claimed that Ten Hag is a ‘huge fan’ of the player and wants the club to pip Manchester City to his services.

The report also relayed a £70m price tag for Barella, who is under contract at the San Siro until 2026.

[Latest Man Utd news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-news-11/)

### The Verdict: Get it done

United have been [short in midfield](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-united/kadernachposition/verein/985) in recent months, with Christian Eriksen’s [injury diagnosis](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/12799842/christian-eriksen-man-utd-midfielder-set-for-three-months-out-after-injuring-ankle-in-fa-cup-tie-with-reading) on January’s transfer deadline day leading to Marcel Sabitzer’s [temporary arrival](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-sign-marcel-sabitzer-on-loan-from-bayern-munich). Therefore, bringing in a new marquee midfielder like Barella could be a wise move by United chiefs in the summer in looking to build on a hugely positive first season under Ten Hag.

Barella has been Inter’s third-best performer this season according to [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/75/Show/Italy-Inter) metrics with a 6.97 rating, registering the joint-most assists at the club and [outperforming](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/32/Show/England-Manchester-United) the likes of Sabitzer, Eriksen, Fred and Scott McTominay at Old Trafford.

With that in mind, the Italian – who was called ‘[world class](https://sempreinter.com/2021/02/17/marcello-lippi-inters-nicolo-barella-is-the-best-italian-midfielder/)‘ by former Azzurri national team coach Marcello Lippi – could form a solid partnership alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes at United going forward, although the club will seemingly need to spend big to get a deal over the line for the Inter dynamo.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”418918″\]