Manchester City's Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure (Photo: Reuters)
Italian giants Inter Milan are close to signing Manchester City's Ivorian Coast midfielder Yaya Toure, the club's vice-president Javier Zanetti claimed on Thursday.
Despite being linked with Manchester City until 2017, the international midfielder is likely to leave the Citizens this summer after spending five years with them.
Several reports suggested that Toure will join Inter Milan as he prefers to work under the guidance of his former coach Roberto Mancini who is in charge at the club.
Asked about the ongoing negotiations between Inter and Toure, 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."
The 32-year-old, who helped Ivory Coast win the Africa Cup of Nations this year for the first time since 1992, produced some fine displays with Manchester City this season, scoring ten goals in 28 Premier League appearances.
After a disappointing season Inter Milan are looking to strengthen their squad for next season.
With two weeks remaining in the Serie A, Inter are eighth in the standings with 52 points, four behind six-placed Genoa who hold the last European qualifying spot.
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