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'Outside chance' Man City will land Maicon

Maicon could yet move this summer © PA Photos

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Manchester City have stepped up their bid to sign Inter Milan defender Maicon, but admit there is only an "outside chance" that a deal will go through before transfer deadline day.

Maicon, 31, has just one year remaining on his contract at the San Siro and City are hoping to broker a cut-price deal for a player Inter value at around €6 million.

City manager Roberto Mancini worked with the Brazil international at Inter for two seasons before leaving the Serie A club in 2008. He is eager to be reunited with Maicon, who can play anywhere on the right flank.

City are hoping to bolster their defence before Friday's transfer deadline but a club insider told ESPN that "there's only an outside chance" of the Maicon deal going through.

Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni has named Maicon in his squad for Thursday night's Europa League play-off second leg against Romanian side Vaslui, indicating he still has a role if he remains at the club.

"Obviously Maicon has unique characteristics and we'll see what happens up to the transfer window. If he stays, we will all be happy," Stramaccioni said. "We won't be caught unprepared, as we have with Javier Zanetti and Jonathan."

However, Premier League champions City are on the brink of sealing a deal to sign Serbia defender Matija Nastasic from Fiorentina.

Nastasic, 19, has been a long-term target of Mancini, and the clubs are thought to have agreed a fee of around £12 million for his transfer.

"It will very likely be completed today, with [Stefan] Savic going the other way," the City source said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.