Inter Milan are prepared to offer £43.5 million (approximately €60 million) to lure Manchester City goliath Yaya Toure toward the grasp of former boss Roberto Mancini.

This is according to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Aaron Flanagan of the Mirror). Flanagan notes the Serie A side are “preparing to break the bank” for the Ivorian midfielder, who played a major role in Mancini landing the 2011 FA Cup and 2012 Premier League titles while at the Etihad Stadium.

Toure’s importance is yet to wane, as highlighted by City’s poor form during January. While Toure was securing the African Cup of Nations with Cote d‘Ivoire, Manuel Pellegrini’s men stumbled to Premier League draws against Everton and Hull, not to mention a loss to Arsenal. The side’s FA Cup hopes were also ended by Championship side Middlesbrough.

The immense standards of Toure’s 2013-14 campaign—in which he netted 20 Premier League goals and provided nine assists, per WhoScored.com—are not going to be matched this year.

He has seven strikes and a single assist this campaign but, more noticeably, has failed to consistently show the driving powerhouse style that makes him such a force. His size and presence in the centre remain key to City’s success, though.

At 31 years old, it’s possible he’s beginning to slow down. A move to Italy would be smart if this is the case, as the week-in, week-out intensity of midfield battles doesn’t match the Premier League. City could even be tempted to cash in on a player whose value is destined to drop quickly over the next couple of years.

Mancini recently made his plans clear by naming the players he’s interested in, as reported by Flanagan:

In the summer we’ll sign a top player, because we are Inter, a top team. I like (Torino’s Matteo) Darmian, James Milner’s contract is expiring – he’ll decide what’s best for him. Toure is a City player, (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk’s) Yevhen Konoplyanka and (Genoa’s) Mattia Perin are both good players. Piero Ausilio is working on it.

It’s certainly a bold approach to highlight potential targets, but Mancini appears intent on quickly restoring Inter to the upper echelons of Italian football. Owner Erick Thohir doesn’t shy away from spending money, but his investment is yet to truly change Inter’s fortunes.

Marco Fassone, Inter’s director general, recently admitted the club would love Toure to arrive. He also suggested Mancini’s presence will go a long way in attracting such players, per Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia):

Who doesn’t dream of a player like Toure? He’d provide our club with something that we’re currently short of, but his price and his salary are serious obstacles. Of course Mancini can help us with him. In the last winter transfer window, several important players considered joining us only by virtue of his presence, regardless of the money.

Roberto is a magnet for the top players. He likes to take part in our summits and his knowledge about footballers is wide as the waters. Mancini is the heart of our engine.

Toure is not the type of player City can easily replace, but his situation is a reminder that the club’s biggest stars are rapidly heading toward the twilight of their careers. Pablo Zabaleta (30 years old) and David Silva (29) are among those who join Toure in the old guard. Inter’s alleged £43.5 million interest in Toure could fund new stars.

The player is synonymous with City’s new era of success, so it would be immensely difficult to let him go. Mancini appears determined to make an impact at the San Siro, however, which could eventually lead his former colleague along the road to Milan.

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