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Liverpool’s chances of signing Mateo Kovacic have been dealt a significant blow after the midfielder stated that his future lies with Inter Milan.
The young Croatian has been targeted by the Reds for quite some time but remains adamant that a move to the Premier League isn’t on the cards.
The speculation around Kovacic’s future has grown considerably since Liverpool sold Raheem Sterling to Manchester City for £49 million on Tuesday.
And, although the Inter midfielder seems like a natural replacement for Sterling, Kovacic maintains that they boast very different attacking qualities.
"Could I replace Sterling? We have two different roles," Kovacic told Gazzetta dello Sport. "It's not for me to say whether there have been any offers from the Reds or not, hopefully that's down to my agent.
"That said, I reiterate that I want to stay here.
"Inter have never said they want to sell me, never. I want to stay here. I will not leave.
"That's what I wanted, that's what my renewal until 2019 shows, and there will be a long relationship between myself and Inter."
Kovacic then directed a stinging attack at Liverpool by insinuating that Inter are the bigger club and ultimately should still be considered as a major European superpower.
He added "I want to show that I deserve Inter," he said. "I want to win with this jersey.
"Inter is like Real [Madrid] or Barcelona."
