Manchester City have opened talks with Inter Milan over the sale of striker Carlos Tevez, BBC Sport understands.City have held discussions with AC Milan but are frustrated with the Italian champions' insistence on a loan deal with an option to buy.
Tevez's representatives have yet to hold discussions with Inter and no fee has been agreed for the 27-year-old.
The Argentine prefers a move to Milan and his advisors are keen to finalise a deal before the transfer window closes.
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti said on Monday: "If you do something you don't do it as a joke but because you think it can be a good operation.
"We've acquired information on how things are going, there's room to act, we'll see if we can do it or not.
"There are still three weeks left. It's not about being optimistic but rather seeing how things are."
Fifth-placed Inter trail leaders Milan by 10 points having had a poor start to the Serie A season and the two teams face each other in the league at the weekend.
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