Inter Milan 'close to Matias Silvestre deal'

Inter Milan are said to be close to completing the signing of Palermo centre-back Matias Silvestre.

The 27-year-old, who has only been with the Sicilian club for 12 months, enhanced his growing reputation last season with a string of stand-out displays for the Serie A strugglers.

According to Calcionews24.com, Inter will pay Palermo €7m (£5.6m) cash for Silvestre, as well as donating their 50 percent ownership stake in goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano to the Aquile.

Tottenham Hotspur had previously been credited with an interest in Silvestre.