Manchester United 'offer Juan Mata to Inter Milan' as they use midfielder as makeweight to bring in Joao Mario

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Manchester United have offered Juan Mata to Inter Milan as part of a deal to bring in Joao Mario, according to reports in Italy.

The Spaniard started the season well under Jose Mourinho but has since fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

And according to Italian paper Corriere dello Sport, United are using Mata as a makeweight in a move for Inter star Mario, with the permission of Mourinho.

Manchester United are interested in signing Portugal star Joao Mario from Inter Milan

Juan Mata has been offered to Inter as part of a deal to bring in Mario, according to reports

However, the Italian publication claim that the Serie A outfit are not interested in signing the 29-year-old, but could be willing to negotiate a deal that includes Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

United could face stiff competition from Paris Saint-Germain for the signature of Mario as the Ligue 1 giants are also said to be interested in him. 

And they could offer Javier Pastore to the San Siro outfit as they look to beat United to the 24-year-old's services.

Inter are looking to avoid cutting their losses on the Portuguese star and are open to a swap deal, while a loan deal with the possibility of a permanent move afterwards has also been suggested.

This news comes ahead of United's crunch Premier League encounter with Manchester City at Old Trafford. 

PSG are said to be interested in Mario and could offer Javier Pastore to the Serie A outfit