CHERRIES are closing in on a deal to sign former Inter Milan midfielder Alessandro Cannataro.

The Dorset club is set to win the race for the 20-year-old who is also a target for their Premier League rivals Leicester, Crystal Palace and Watford.

Cannataro, who progressed through the ranks at the San Siro, has spent the past fortnight training with Stephen Purches’s under-21 squad at the Vitality Stadium.

He impressed in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Reading nine days ago and also lined up in Cherries’ Final Third Development League opener against AFC Wimbledon last week.

Capped by Italy at under-16, 17, 18 and 19 level, Cannataro is a free agent after his contract with Inter was terminated in the summer.

Although he did not feature for the first team at Inter, he had loan spells in Serie B with Liverno and with Aurora Pro Patria in the Italian lower league.

Leicester were the favourites to sign Cannataro after he impressed during a trial with the Foxes last month.

But Cherries are now the frontrunners and are expected to finalise terms with the player on a one-year deal.