Chivu will join Inter Wednesday 6 June, 2007
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Roma defender Cristian Chivu is on the verge of signing a five-year contract with Italian champions Inter.
The Romanian’s current deal expires in 2008 and talks regarding a renewal have never really gathered pace, which has allowed the Nerazzurri to intervene.
Agent Victor Becali met with Roma chief operating officer Rosella Sensi last night over a possible extension, but the difference between what has been offered and what is wanted remains vast.
Chivu is understood to have requested a deal worth £2.8m a season, but the capital outfit are not willing to offer more than £1.7m.
A move now looks on the horizon as it is understood that Inter have a £2.5m a year deal already lined up for the 26-year-old.
Roma will now cash in on the stopper rather than run the risk of giving him away for a nominal fee in January or on a free transfer next year.
Inter are set to tempt the capital club to sell with a bid of between £4m and £7m cash, as well as handing over the full ownership of David Pizarro – who is currently co-owned between the two.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan and Juventus have all been paired with Chivu in the past, but Inter are in pole position to land him this summer.
Chivu is highly rated by Coach Roberto Mancini who likes the fact that the former Ajax man can play in the centre or as a left-back.
Roma are already looking for a Chivu replacement with Silveira Juan of Bayer Leverkusen or Per Mertesacker of Werder Bremen possible recruits.