Inter Milan join West Ham in the chase for Song

The Hammers are hoping to tie up a deal with Barcelona for the Cameroon midfielder, but the Italians are looking to strengthen and have previously been in contact with his agents.

Inter are ready to rival West Ham for the permanent signature of Barcelona midfielder Alex Song, Goal understands.

Song has been on loan at Upton Park this season after falling out of favour at Camp Nou, and the Hammers are hopeful of striking a permanent deal in the coming months.

The Cameroon international currently earns £70,000 in east London and the club are hopeful he will agree to the same wage packet should he commit himself on a long-term basis, while it is expected that Barcelona would hold out for a fee of around £5 million.

But fallen Serie A giants Inter are in the market for reinforcements this summer. Roberto Mancini is keen to link up with Yaya Toure once again after working with him at Manchester City, and while the Italians are willing to match his ambition any transfer is likely to prove costly in the extreme.

As a result, club sporting director Piero Ausilio is scouring for cheaper alternatives and has renewed contact with Song's representatives.

The Nerazzurri had been in discussions to sign the 27-year-old last summer - indeed West Ham had claimed that they had seen off interest from "some of Europe's biggest clubs" to land him in August - and are willing to explore the possibility once again.

Back in February Song insisted he was happy with life in London but that he would evaluate his future this summer.

"I am very happy here and my family is very happy here," he said. "And the most important thing is happiness.

"I would love to stay here at West Ham but I will choose at the end of the season."

Inter, currently 10th in Serie A but backed by Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir, are looking to rebuild ahead of the 2015-16 campaign and are ready to offload several squad members.

Hugo Campagnaro and Jonathan will leave upon the expiration of their contracts, while Marco Andreolli is another player to be allowed to leave alongside Ezequiel Schelotto, who has been on loan at Chievo, and Ruben Botta.

Inter would be due to receive €11m (£7.8m) from Sunderland for Ricky Alvarez should the Black Cats avoid the drop this season, while the Italians are currently negotiating the contracts of Mauro Icardi and Samir Handanovic.