Liverpool's Kovacic bid rejected

Cape Town - Liverpool have been unsuccessful in their approach for Inter Milan's 21-year-old Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

talkSPORT report that Liverpool have been rejected in their player-plus-cash for Mateo Kovacic.

The English publication believe that striker Mario Balotelli was included in the Reds £15 million bid to sign the Croatian star which was rebuffed by the Serie A giants.

Inter Milan are unwillingly to negotiate a cash-plus-Balotelli deal, according to Corriere dello Sport.

Balotelli spent several seasons at Inter before joining Manchester City but his former club do not want the striker as part of any deal for Kovacic.

Kovacic will reportedly cost the Reds £22 million.