Inter Milan are reportedly on the verge of ramping up their pursuit of Manchester United target Alessio Cerci by bidding £16million for the Torino attacker.
According to TuttoSport, AC Milan and Roma are also interested in the Italy international but Inter’s plans to test the water with an offer are at an advanced stage.
The proposal could include a player exchange, which would see the value of the deal remain the same but the actual transfer fee knocked down to around £11m.
A source close to Old Trafford told Football Express News they continue to monitor the situation with interest, although they have a number of irons in the fire and are unlikely to get involved in an inflated bidding war.
Ambitious Inter owner Erick Thohir is said to have earmarked the coveted 26-year-old as the man to bring flair and goals to the San Siro in the 2014-15 campaign and hopes to enter into a dialogue now the player’s World Cup campaign is over.
The versatile forward, who can operate out wide on both flanks or through the middle as a supporting striker, scored 13 goals in 37 appearances for Torino last season.
He has little more than a year remaining on his current contract.