Reds free to discuss terms with San Siro starlet.
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Liverpool FC blog
Liverpool have agreed a £16.6m fee with Inter Milan for the possible signing of Mateo Kovacic and are now free to discuss terms with the young Croatian midfielder, according to Italian source Gazzetta dello Sport.
The 21-year-old is a highly rated prospect in the game after some impressive performances in Serie A, having contributed five goals and three assists to Inter’s cause this season.
Liverpool’s need for a new midfielder is clear after they bid farewell to club legend Steven Gerrard at the end of this season, with the former England captain on his way to MLS giants LA Galaxy after falling out of favour in Brendan Rodgers’ first-team this term.
Although Kovacic may not necessarily be a similar type of player to Gerrard, he has become known for being a decent goalscorer from the middle of the park, as well as a player with a keen eye for a pass, playing an average of 1.8 key passes per game and boasting an overall pass accuracy of 87.5%, according to stats from WhoScored.com.
Putting in such assured performances at a young age will certainly convince some that he has a bright future in the game, and Liverpool could be a good next step for him as he continues his development, with other young players doing well under the guidance of Rodgers.
Philippe Coutinho is a fine example, with the Brazilian playmaker also joining the Reds from Inter back in 2013, and going on to become one of the team’s most important players after showing remarkable improvement in the Premier League.
Other up-and-coming talents like Emre Can and Lazar Markovic were signed by Liverpool last summer, while manager Rodgers has also brought through homegrown talent like Raheem Sterling, Jon Flanagan and Jordan Ibe during his reign on Merseyside.