Manchester United have received a major boost in the pursuit of Inter midfielder Joao Mario after the Serie A club’s director Walter Sabatini admitted the player could leave in January.
The 24-year-old has struggled to establish himself in an Inter side that has lost just once in 17 league matches so far this season and has grown concerned that a lack of playing time could cost him a place in Portugal’s World Cup squad.
Reports last week in Italy claimed United had explored the option of a swap deal involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whose Old Trafford career looks to be in severe jeopardy after he was involved in a bust-up with Jose Mourinho at the club’s Carrington training complex.
Inter would also consider selling for €45 million (£39.5m), which is what they paid to sign the Portugal international from Sporting last year.
‘We didn’t receive concrete offers, but we know that Joao Mario has the World Cup and wants to play more,’ Sabatini told O Jogo.
‘We’ll see what we’ll do now in January, we’ll meet in the next few days to decide it.’
Paris Saint-Germain and Valencia have been mentioned as potential alternative destinations and on Los Che’s interest, Sabatini added: ‘It would be a very intelligent transfer from their part, we have done many deals with Valencia, we’ve got great relations.’
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