Manchester United 'approached' by Ruben Amorim's AC Milan over cut-price deal for player

Manchester United are reportedly willing to sell a player to AC Milan - who are now managed by their former head coach Ruben Amorim - as part of a cut-price deal.

Amorim, who had been out of work since his United sacking in January, was appointed as AC Milan head coach earlier in June.

Massimiliano Allegri had been sacked by the Italian giants in May after they failed to qualify for the Champions League, and the club spoke to several managers before settling on Amorim.

The Portuguese will now get to work in trying to launch a Serie A title charge next season. While Milan finished down in fifth last season, they were only six points behind second-placed Napoli and lost three of their final five league games. Champions Inter were 17 points clear.

Milan spent around £135 million on signings last summer but that was offset by a series of high-profile departures, including Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City, Malick Thiaw to Newcastle and Theo Hernandez to Al Hilal.

They will need to sell again before they can buy this summer due to their failure to qualify for the Champions League.

But United could help them out on that front by offering them a player for a significantly low fee.

AC Milan 'approach Man Utd' over former Amorim star

According to MilanPress, the Italian club have made initial approaches over the signing of United midfielder Mason Mount.

It is claimed that Michael Carrick's side are initially asking for just €25 million (around £21.5 million) to sell Mount, but that that fee could be driven down.

Mount, who started just 12 Premier League matches last season, including just two after Carrick took charge in January, is believed to be one of Milan's two key targets for the summer alongside PSG forward Goncalo Ramos.

The Daily Mirror report, however, that the 27-year-old's representatives have not been approached by Milan chiefs and that, as far as he is concerned, he will remain at Old Trafford this summer.

Mason Mount has struggled for game time at Man Utd since Michael Carrick took charge (Image: Getty)

But Italian media are adamant that Amorim wants to reunite with one of the players he coached during his time in English football.

In December, the Portuguese singled Mount out for praise after United thrashed bottom club Wolves 4-1 at Molineux in what was one of their more complete displays during Amorim's time in charge.

He said of Mount, who won the player of the match award: "He can defend, he can attack, the quality when he touches the ball is really good. So it's not a surprise for me [the award].

"He's a different type of leader. It's not like Licha [Lisandro Martinez], for example. It's a guy that leads by the example.

"It doesn't matter the situation, Mason Mount is always the same thing - training, talking, dealing with people around Carrington [training ground]. That is not easy, so he's a very, very good player."

United themselves already have midfield issues of their own, with Manuel Ugarte set to miss most of next season after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Uruguay at the World Cup.

READ MORE: Man Utd confirm Manuel Ugarte has suffered 'serious injury' as recovery timescale emerges

The club have agreed a deal to sign Atalanta's Ederson as they prepare to play Champions League football again next season, but Casemiro's departure leaves only Mount, Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo as their other senior midfield options at present.