According to reports, Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo is set to sign a one-year loan deal with Internazionale.

Inter sporting director Marco Branca, a Chelsea representative, and Crespo and his agent Fernando Hidalgo will meet in Milan on Monday to conclude the move.

The Argentinian has requested a return to Italy for a number of weeks, and he is even prepared to take a pay cut to realise his ambition.

Last week he said: “The fact is I love Italy. The money and success don’t come into it.

“Italy is my natural environment, it is the place where I will live when I retire and it is the best place to play.”

Crespo signed for Chelsea in August 2003 for a fee of £16.8m. He spent a year on loan at Milan for the 2004-05 campaign, before returning to Chelsea last season.