Inter Milan plan to hold talks with Manchester United officials next week regarding a move for Red Devils striker Javier Hernandez, according to fresh reports in the Italian media.
TuttoSport claims negotiators from both clubs will discuss the Mexico international on Tuesday (July 29) when the two sides face each other in a friendly in Washington.
Ambitious Inter owner Erick Thohir is said to have told directors to use the match as an opportunity to sit down and thrash out a deal to secure the forward’s services.
He sees the 26-year-old as the ideal candidate to provide an effective foil for hitmen Mauro Icardi and Rodrigo Palacio, although he does have other targets in mind should the United man prove elusive.
The San Siro giants’ long-running pursuit of Manchester City’s Stevan Jovetic has so far yielded no positive results and little encouragement from the Blues, causing Inter to turn their attention to the red half of the city.
He could struggle to make a significant leap from last season’s status of fourth-choice striker, given new manager Louis van Gaal’s close working relationship with compatriot Robin van Persie.
Hernandez now finds himself behind Wayne Rooney, van Persie and Danny Welbeck in the battle for a starting berth and has even lost his place in the Mexico side.
He has two years remaining on his contract.