According to reports in Italy, Liverpool have turned down an audacious £25 million bid from Inter Milan for Steven Gerrard.
The 27-year-old Reds captain, who is contracted to the club until 2010, has been made this summer's "top priority" in terms of new signings by the Serie A club.
Inter are preparing to celebrate their centenary season in 2008/09 and it is thought they will be chasing at least one or two big-money acquisitions in order to mark the occasion.
But an official from the club admitted it had received "a most emphatic response" from Liverpool to say Gerrard "is not for sale".
"We need to make a big signing for next season and Gerrard was at the centre of our thoughts," the official is quoted as saying by the Sun newspaper.
"We have drawn up a list of alternatives, but if Liverpool decide to sell Gerrard is our top priority."
Inter are closing in on a second successive Scudetto, but suffered a setback at the hands of their local rivals AC Milan last weekend - losing 2-1.
AS Roma are the only team capable of catching Roberto Mancini's side at the top of the league and are now only three points adrift after a convincing 3-0 win at Sampdoria.
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