Last Updated: Fri, 09 May 2008 09:38
Inter Milan have confirmed Liverpool rejected a £25million bid for Steven Gerrard - with Jose Mourinho thought to be behind the move.
The reigning Serie A champions, set to appoint the ex-Chelsea boss as their new coach for next season, revealed that they made the cheeky approach around the time of the Champions League second round clash back in March.
That was the same time that Inter coach Roberto Mancini bizarrely admitted he would be standing down at the end of the season, only to backtrack on those comments as soon as speculation Mourinho was to be placed in charge surfaced.
The Portuguese coach made Gerrard his first priority when he took over at Chelsea in 2004, telling Roman Abramovich and Peter Kenyon to break the bank for the Anfield skipper - and almost pulled it off.
Inter are set to spend big this summer to revamp their squad and are keen to unveil a star name as part of their centenary celebrations.
An Inter official told The Sun: "We need to make a big signing for next season and Gerrard was at the top of our thoughts.
"Liverpool gave us the most empahtic response he was not for sale. We have drawn up a list of alternatives, but if Liverpool decide to sell, Gerrard is our top priority."