Liverpool have made a £10 million bid for Inter Milan and Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic, sources have told ESPN FC.
Kovacic has been a long-term transfer target for the Anfield club, who reportedly had an initial offer for the 21-year-old rejected earlier this month.
However, Liverpool are refusing to give up their pursuit of the Kovacic and tabled a new bid of £10m for the schemer.
Liverpool are drawing up a list of midfield targets as they search for reinforcements, having seen midfield talisman Steven Gerrard leave the club for LA Galaxy after 17 years at Anfield.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to strengthen his options in midfield and they hope to capitalise on Inter's failure to qualify for Europe next season by testing their resolve to keep hold of the Croatian international.
Kovacic came to prominence at Dinamo Zagreb and his performances saw him attract interest of a host of top clubs across Europe before Inter secured his signature in January 2013.
The attacking midfielder enjoyed his best season to date for Inter this term, scoring five goals in 34 games and he signed a new deal in January to keep him at the San Siro until 2019.
Despite being on a long-term deal Liverpool are hopeful of striking a deal for Kovacic and could even offer Lucas Leiva in part-exchange with Roberto Mancini a confirmed admirer of the Brazilian.
