Manchester United and Arsenal have been dealt a blow in their alleged pursuit of Mateo Kovacic after his agent reiterated the midfielder's commitment to Inter Milan.
Sky Sports reports how the Croatia international has been heavily linked with a move away from the San Siro during the summer, with the Premier League rivals both keeping tabs on his development in Italy.
Red Devils boss David Moyes has been credited with an interest in bringing Kovacic to Old Trafford, as he looks to strengthen his creative midfield ranks ahead of the 2014/15 campaign.
According to the Daily Express, the 19-year-old has also been targeted by the Gunners, with Arsene Wenger mulling over an attempt to lure the talented teenager to the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season.
However, both Manchester United and Arsenal will struggle to secure the player's signature, unless Inter are prepared to sell him in the forthcoming transfer window.
"Kovacic has five years left in his contract," Kovacic's agent Nikki Vuksan confirmed in an interview with www.fcinternews.it.
"He is an Inter player and will continue to be until the club wishes otherwise. One has to ask Inter if they want to keep him or not."
Kovacic has been with Inter a little over a year, after joining from Dinamo Zagreb for around €15million in January 2013. Despite missing pre-season with a series of minor injuries, the youngster has impressed in his 27 appearances in Serie 'A' in 2013/14, the latest of which came in Sunday's 4-0 thrashing of Sampdoria.
"He has a normal relationship with his coach [Walter Mazzarri]," Vuksan added. "He does what the coach asks him to do. [And] he handed a good performance against Sampdoria."
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