Roberto Mancini feels Mateo Kovacic will remain at Inter Milan

Published Jun. 11, 2015 7:11 a.m. ET

foxsports

Roberto Mancini believes Mateo Kovacic will stay at Inter Milan this summer, despite interest in the Croatia midfielder from Liverpool.

The Reds have been linked with a move for the 21-year-old, with reports in his homeland claiming personal terms had already been agreed.

Inter were said to have already rejected an offer from Liverpool in the region of £15million, and though the Nerrazzuri were understood to be open to a possible player-plus-cash deal, boss Mancini currently believes Kovacic will remain in Milan.

"At the moment there's nothing, I think he'll stay," the coach told Sky Sport Italia.

"I don't think we'll sell our top players, I don't think that's a risk."

Mancini believes Kovacic has great potential, which is certain to appeal to Brendan Rodgers and the Liverpool hierarchy.

"He'll become a champion," Mancini said. "Of course, he's still lacking some things, but he's improved a lot, and I think that's showed."