Inter hopeful of signing Deco, Carvalho

Italian champions Inter are hopeful of soon signing Chelsea duo Deco and Ricardo Carvalho, club president Massimo Moratti said yesterday.

Midfielder Deco played for Inter coach Jose Mourinho at Porto where they won the 2004 Champions League while centre-back Carvalho won two Premier League titles under his Portuguese compatriot at Chelsea.

"There is still no agreement with Chelsea but I think we will manage to find one shortly," Moratti said.

"The coach has asked us for Deco and Carvalho and we are trying to make him happy. We want to take both of them and I'm pleased to see the two players want to come here."

The 31-year-old Deco, who only signed for the Londoners from Barcelona last year, has expressed his unhappiness at being given a bit-part role at Chelsea at the end of last season.

Moratti said Inter were also fans of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba but stopped short of saying they would again bid for the Ivorian.