Liverpool are hoping to bring Croatian youngster, Mateo Kovacic, to Anfield this summer and are in advanced talks with his current club, Inter Milan.
Kovacic has impressed with several eye-catching performances in Serie A this season. Arsenal are also rumoured to be very interested in the player, and though he only signed a new deal earlier in the year and other clubs want him, Brendan Rogers hopes to lure Kovacic away from Inter.
Roberto Mancini will be reluctant to let the youngster go, but as Inter failed to qualify for any European competitions this season, he may well struggle to keep hold of the Croatian.
Kovacic’s latest deal saw him commit his future to the club but that certainly isn’t putting Rogers off his man. Liverpool have, according to the Express, already tabled a £7.5 million bid that was swiftly rejected. Liverpool officials are reportedly in Italy this weekend hoping to get a deal finalised, with the figure likely to be around £12.5 million.
The young Croatian caught the eye while he was at Dinamo Zagreb and a number of top European clubs wanted the player, with Inter pipping the others to the post.
With Steven Gerrard’s departure this summer Liverpool hope to strengthen in midfield and Kovacic, at only 21 years-old, could fit in well alongside the likes of Jordan Henderson and Phillipe Coutinho.