Former Aston Villa striker John Carew 'to join Inter Milan'

The Norwegian is a free agent having left West Ham in the summer

John Carew (GETTY IMAGES)

Reports in Italy suggest Inter Milan are close to signing former Aston Villa and Lyon striker John Carew until the end of the Serie A season.

The Norwegian is a free agent having left Barclays Premier League club West Ham in the summer and Inter are looking for back-up to Antonio Cassano with Argentinian forward Diego Milito ruled out for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage.

Having located the player at his hotel in central Milan, the Gazzetta dello Sport have joined Sky Sport Italia in reporting that the 33-year-old has been training with the club and could sign a 300,000 euro deal subject to passing a medical.

Carew told Gazzetta reporters: "I'm ready. I feel good and I've worked with the team over the last two weeks.

"I've travelled around and been to the cinema a few times but now I'm ready to give my all for Inter. I wasn't expecting the call - life is full of surprises."

Carew, who scored 24 goals in 91 appearances for Norway, has prior experience of Italian football having enjoyed a loan spell at Roma in the 2003-04 season.

PA