The Argentine legend has revealed that he is increasingly confident that his side can sign both the Ivorian and PSG’s Thiago Motta

Inter sporting director Javier Zanetti has revealed that negotiations to bring Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure to San Siro are entering a decisive phase.

Toure is widely expected to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer, with his agent admitting that his client is 90 per cent certain to move on.

Inter boss Roberto Mancini has made no secret of his desire to be reunited with the 32-year-old, whom he signed during his time in charge of City between 2009 and 2013, and Zanetti is increasingly optimistic that the Nerazzurri can not only land Toure, but also persuade Paris Saint-Germain ace Thiago Motta to return to the Giuseppe Meazza.

“We have arrived at the stage where we hope that we can close the deal,” the Argentine told Tuttosport. “With him and Thiago Motta, Inter would be a complete team.

“Thiago Motta can give us so much. He knows the environment, has a great personality and is one of the best midfielders with whom I played.

“He’s very clever. Depending on the moment, he can speed up and slow down the game. And, when his team is in trouble, he takes the ball and does the best thing possible with it.

“People with these qualities make you take the leap.”

Though he feels that Inter would be a much stronger outfit with Toure and Motta on board, Zanetti feels that his side would still be some way behind Serie A champions Juventus, who have just clinched their fourth successive Scudetto.

“Would we get close to Juventus? With the two of them, Inter would certainly be contenders again, but Juventus have been working for three or four years, as their results show.