Roberto Mancini feels Mateo Kovacic will remain at Inter Milan

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."