As we revealed on Sunday, Real were keen to add Zanetti to a team that now boasts £42 million man Zinedine Zidane.
As expected, rather than pay the full cash value for a player valued conservatively at £14 million, Real have offered Spanish international Salgado as part of the fee.
Internazionale are yet to make a final decision about the future of Zanetti, but new coach Hector Cuper is a known fan of Salgado and may decide that the right-sided player will prove a valuable replacement for the unsettled Argentine.
Zanetti himself is keen to move to Real, after six years in Milan, and views La Liga as the perfect place to once more prove his immense talent.
"We have not yet reached a definitive agreement with Inter, but the talks are heading in the right direction and we are confident that a deal will be completed next week," said a Real club official.
