Inter Milan claim they are closing in on Manchester City's Yaya Toure
Wednesday 20 May 2015 12:56, UK
Inter Milan vice-president Javier Zanetti claims they are closing in on the signing of Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.
Toure, who has been at the Etihad for five years, is thought to be considering his future and former City boss Roberto Mancini, now in charge of Inter, is monitoring the situation.
When asked of the ongoing negotiations for the 32-year-old Ivory Coast international, Zanetti told Gazzetta dello Sport: "We are at the stage where we hope we can complete it. Yaya would give us that leap in quality."
Zanetti also revealed Inter are keen to bring Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta back to the San Siro this summer.
The Italy international played three seasons for Inter before joining PSG in 2012 and Zanetti said: "If Motta were to arrive, he could give so much.
"He knows the club, he has experience, quality and is one of the strongest midfielders that I have ever played with. He is very intelligent. To bring players like them would give us that leap in quality."
Toure, who is reportedly City's highest earner on around £220,000 per week, has scored 10 goals in 28 Premier League appearances for the club this season. The former Barcelona midfielder signed a four-year contract with City in April 2013.
Motta, meanwhile, is out of contract at PSG next season and has made 24 league appearances for the Ligue 1 champions.
Inter have endured a disappointing campaign but are still hoping to qualify for next season's Europa League.
The Nerazzurri are eighth in the standings, four points adrift of Genoa, who hold the last European qualifying spot with two games remaining.