Liverpool Edge Closer To Third Signing After Making €23m Bid For Arsenal Target

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Liverpool close in on the signing of Mateo Kovacic….

Liverpool are closing in on the signature of Arsenal target Mateo Kovacic with the Merseysiders locked in negotiations with Inter Milan after tabling a €23m bid for the midfielders services, according to reports in Italy.

Kovacic moved to Inter from Dinamo Zagreb in 2013 and enjoyed an excellent start to life in Italy as he developed into one of the most promising young midfielders in European football, but he fell out-of-favour under Roberto Mancini during the second half of last season.

His potential has attracted interest from the Premier League with the likes Arsenal and Liverpool strongly linked with a move for the 21-year-old and Inter reportedly rejected bids for the midfielder early last month.

However, it seems Liverpool have renewed their interest and are now closing in on a deal as Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web claim the Merseysiders have made a €23m (£16.75m) bid for the 21-year-old’s services.

Liverpool are going to have to dig a little deeper to get a deal agreed as TMW suggest that Inter are holding out for a fee closer to €30m (£21.85m), but the two clubs are locked in negotiations and a compromise is expected to be found.

Inter have already found a replacement in Ondrej Duda and it’s been reported that Kovacic has already agreed personal terms over a move to Anfield, so it’s now just down to Liverpool to get a fee agreed with the Serie A giants.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will make a late attempt to hijack the proposed deal, but as it stands it looks like Liverpool are edging closer to securing their third signing of the summer transfer window.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

Brendan Rodgers has already agreed deals to sign James Milner and Danny Ings and the addition of Kovacic would be another statement of intent from the Northern Irishman as he looks to build a squad capable of breaking back into the top four next season.

Kovacic is a central midfielder who can play anywhere from the holding role, box-to-box or as an attacking midfielder so he’ll give Rodgers plenty of option in the center of the park if he does end up moving to Anfield this summer.