Liverpool have reportedly suffered a setback in their pursuit of Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella, who has no intention of moving to Anfield.
The Reds are on the lookout for cheaper alternatives to Jude Bellingham after withdrawing their interest in the £130m-rated Borussia Dortmund starlet.
Barella had apparently emerged as a leading target for Jurgen Klopp's side amid questions over his San Siro future, having come under fire for a few underwhelming showings recently.
A recent report claimed that Inter would be prepared to entertain offers of around €50m (£44.2m) for the Italy international, whose contract with the Nerazzurri runs for another three years.
However, according to Sportsmediaset - via FC Inter News - Barella is not giving any consideration to a move to Liverpool, despite the Reds' willingness to splash the cash.
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The report states that Liverpool would have been prepared to cough up as much as €85m (£75.2m) to bring Barella to Anfield, fending off interest from clubs in France in the process.
Klopp's side may be forced to look elsewhere in their search for engine room additions, though, as Barella apparently has no interest in leaving Simone Inzaghi's side anytime soon.
The 26-year-old burst onto the scene with Cagliari, earning a loan move to Inter for the 2019-20 season before completing a permanent £28.8m move to San Siro at the end of that campaign.
Barella has posted 19 goals and 43 assists in 178 matches for Inter since first pulling on the Nerazzurri jersey, winning one Serie A title, one Coppa Italia and one Supercoppa Italiana in the process.
The Italy international has scored eight goals and set up nine more in 43 outings during the current campaign, scoring in both legs of Inter's Champions League quarter-final success over Benfica.
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Barella also set up Federico Dimarco's goal in the second leg of Inter's Coppa Italia semi-final win over Juventus on Wednesday, as the Nerazzurri prepare to tackle Fiorentina in this year's final on May 24.
Liverpool have held off on making big-money midfield signings in the past two transfer windows, but Klopp is now set to wave goodbye to as many as four lynchpins ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will depart when their contracts expire, while Arthur's nightmare loan spell from Juventus will not be converted into a permanent deal.
Klopp is thought to be in favour of a new contract for James Milner, but the 37-year-old is now believed to be on the radar of Brighton & Hove Albion for a free transfer this summer.
Mason Mount, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Kalvin Phillips are also said to be on a shortlist of Bellingham alternatives for Liverpool, who lie seventh in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's showdown with Tottenham Hotspur.
Ben Knapton
