Inter awaiting formal offer from Manchester United
Inter are waiting for Manchester United to make a formal offer for Wesley Sneijder before upping their interest in Carlos Tevez, Goal.com can reveal.
The Serie A giants are willing to negotiate the sale of their Dutch playmaker but are holding out for a straight cash bid of £35 million.
If United follow up the interest that was outlined in talks involving senior officials of the two clubs in Milan a fortnight ago, Goal.com understands that Inter will move for Tevez.
The Italians cannot afford the Argentine without first offloading Sneijder, who is no longer considered indispensable at San Siro following the arrival of new manager Gian Piero Gasperini.
United chief executive David Gill raised the prospect of a renewed attempt to sign Sneijder by admitting on Wednesday that Sir Alex Ferguson wants to recruit a "world class" player before the summer window closes.
It is understood that United have indicated they are willing to meet Inter's £35.2m asking price but the main stumbling block is the player's personal demands.
As revealed by Goal.com, sportswear giants and Sneijder's sponsor Nike could step in to meet the shortfall between the 27-year-old's £200,000-a-week demands and the £170,000-a-week that United are willing to pay.
"The transfer from Sneijder to Manchester United is still very much open," a source close to the situation told Goal.com. "Inter are still ready to negotiate a sale, but they will not undersell him. Inter know how much Sneijder is worth, and they know United want him, and so they will not sell him on the cheap.
"It's about big money. If United make an offer of €35m [£30.9m] or €40m [£35.3m] then they will sell him straight away. Inter just want cash and no part-exchange deal. It's not that Inter are desperate to sell him, but neither do they regard him as priceless or unsellable.
"Sneijder is considered a very important player, fundamental, but not indispensable, and so he will be sold for the right offer. Also, if Sneijder is sold Inter will make a dash for Tevez."
City are willing to soften their stance on Tevez in order to offload their leading scorer of the last two seasons before the window shuts.
Tevez has reiterated that he wants to leave the Etihad Stadium and City responded by placing a £50m price tag on the striker, a valuation they lowered to enable Brazilian club Corinthians to agree a £39m deal before a prospective move collapsed last week.
City are adamant they will not be so welcoming to a European club, particularly a Champions League rival.
But it is understood that the Premier League club will sell for closer to £45m and possibly even as low as £40m if a buyer is not found by the time the transfer deadline draws near.
Although manager Roberto Mancini is content to have four senior strikers in his first-team squad - Emmanuel Adebayor, Craig Bellamy and Roque Santa Cruz are all deemed surplus to requirements - new signing Sergio Aguero is considered a replacement for, rather than a partner to, Tevez.
Inter believe Tevez would fit well into their new three-striker system, more likely in a wide attacking role, but do not regard him as a possible signing unless they have funds provided by the sale of Sneijder.
Sources say Tevez's meeting with Inter sporting director Marco Branca while on holiday in Sardinia last week was "casual" and too much should not be read into it.
Inter awaiting formal offer from Manchester United for Wesley Sneijder before upping interest in £45m Carlos Tevez - Goal.com