Manchester United defender Ashley Young is in talks with Inter Milan, sources have told ESPN.
The 34-year-old could sign for the Italian side this month or, if United block the deal, sign a precontract agreement and move to Serie A on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Young’s contract at Old Trafford is due to expire on June 30 and he has been free to negotiate with clubs outside England since Jan. 1.
– When does the transfer window reopen?
– All major completed transfer deals
He was left out of the squad ahead of the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday, although after the game United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggested he was not keen to let the England international leave midway through the season.
“Tonight is not the time to talk about players leaving because we need the players we have in the squad and we’ve got a few months left of this season,” Solskjaer said.
“We can’t weaken ourselves, we need to strengthen ourselves, if any movement is going to happen.”
Young has made more than 250 appearances for United since arriving from Aston Villa under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011.
He was named club captain in the summer following the departure of Antonio Valencia but has found opportunities limited this season with Solskjaer preferring Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka as his first-choice full-backs.
If Young does join Inter, he will be the third player make the switch to the San Siro in the last six months after Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez both joined Antonio Conte’s side in the summer.
Inter are top of the Serie A table after 18 games, ahead of champions Juventus on goal difference. After finishing third in their Champions League group they have dropped down into the Europa League and could draw United later in the competition.