Serie A defender is dreaming of playing for Liverpool | OneFootball

Anan Khalaili and Liverpool’s Search for a Right-Back Solution

Liverpool’s right side has become a live issue again, and there is no point dressing it up. Replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold was always going to be difficult, but the club have not solved it yet. Conor Bradley has had spells of promise, but availability and consistency matter. Jeremie Frimpong has talent, pace and attacking thrust, though he has looked more comfortable higher up the pitch than as a conventional right-back.

That is why the latest report around Anan Khalaili will catch attention. As Marco Barzaghi reported, Inter moved decisively to sign the player and there is already talk of Liverpool being the club he dreams about further down the line. The detail is interesting, even if the timing is not ideal for Liverpool. Inter have done the deal, and for now that closes the door.

Khalaili joins Inter Milan for around €25m plus bonuses, roughly £21m before add-ons are factored in, after making a strong impression with Union SG. He is a right-sided player with clear athletic tools, direct running and the sort of aggressive approach that suits modern wing-back football. He can carry the ball into space, attack defenders one against one and press with intensity. In systems that ask for verticality and constant movement, he makes sense.

Inter Milan Move Comes First

The key line in Barzaghi’s report was clear. “Inter were extremely determined to sign Anan. They wanted him at all costs,” he told his YouTube audience. That does not sound like a club casually adding depth. It sounds like a club targeting a starter for the future.

The report then outlined how the transfer nearly fell apart before the Inter head coach stepped in. “We went through a terrible week. The transfer came very close to collapsing, but then Cristian Chivu took the initiative and called Anan personally.” That sort of intervention matters. Managers do not usually make those calls unless they see a specific role for the player.

Liverpool Transfer Angle Will Not Go Away

The Liverpool angle exists because the player reportedly sees Anfield as a dream destination. Barzaghi added, “He believes Anan can continue to improve and perhaps one day fulfil his childhood dream of playing for Liverpool. Personally, I probably wouldn’t have said that to him.” It is an unusual thing to float during a transfer pitch, though it also tells you there is already awareness of the player’s long-term ambition.

From Liverpool’s perspective, this is more of a name to monitor than a move to expect. Khalaili is 21, developing and now heading into a major tactical and competitive step at Inter Milan. If he thrives in Serie A, particularly in a demanding wide role, the interest around him will only grow.

Why Anan Khalaili Fits Liverpool Discussion

Liverpool under Andoni Iraola will need intensity, repeat sprints and defensive reliability from the flanks. Khalaili appears to have several of those traits. The issue is simple, Liverpool need answers sooner than later, and Inter have moved first. So this becomes a scouting file, not an immediate transfer plan.

There is enough here to justify the attention. Liverpool still need certainty at right-back. Until they find it, every capable right-sided player in Europe will be discussed.

Photo: IMAGO

Our View

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this report is intriguing but also slightly frustrating. The player profile makes sense. Young, quick, direct, positionally flexible, that is the kind of market opportunity fans usually want the club to spot before the price rises. If Khalaili is moving now for around €25m, then a strong season at Inter could push him into a much more expensive bracket very quickly.

The bigger point is what this says about Liverpool’s squad planning. If the club are still being linked with right-sided defenders or wing-backs after already trying internal and external solutions, then the problem has not been fixed. Supporters can accept transition. What they struggle with is uncertainty dragging on.

There is also a practical issue. If a player is already at Inter Milan, there is no easy route. Inter do not develop talent for others out of charity, and if he becomes their long-term right-sided answer, they will either keep him or demand a substantial fee. Liverpool would have to be convinced he is a top-level solution, not simply an interesting athlete.

That said, fans will keep an eye on him. A player openly connected with a dream of Liverpool always gets attention. If he tears through Serie A, this story will come back. And if Liverpool are still looking for a right-back by then, it will come back even louder.