Inter Milan have reportedly turned down an offer of cash plus Mario Balotelli from Liverpool in exchange for Mateo Kovacic.
The midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield, but the Serie A side are thought to value the Croatian at £22m, while Brendan Rodgers's side only want to pay £15m.
Italian publication Corriere dello Sport claims that the Reds have offered striker Balotelli as a makeweight in the deal, with the Italy international having only scored four goals in all competitions following his move to Liverpool last summer.
The report adds that Inter are not interested in re-signing the 24-year-old though, informing Liverpool that they will only consider a cash deal for Kovacic.
The 21-year-old featured 42 times for Inter last season.
