Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Henrikh Mkhitaryan Exit

Inter Milan are reportedly interested in signing out-of-favour Manchester United playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the January transfer window.

According to Corriere dello Sport (via MailOnline's Ben Church), the Italian giants are eager to bolster their midfield and could move for Mkhitaryan in order to add greater depth to their Serie A-chasing squad.

The report added any move for the Armenian would likely initially be a loan deal because Inter are reluctant to shell out big transfer fees.

Inter have not enjoyed the best of weeks. A weakened side needed penalties to see off third-tier Pordenone in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday, exposing the Nerazzurri's lack of quality outside of the first team.

Luciano Spalletti's side then dropped from the top of Serie A to third after suffering their first defeat of the season at home to Udinese on Saturday.

Meanwhile, United manager Jose Mourinho has frozen out Mkhitaryan in recent weeks.

He has not started a match for the Red Devils since their Nov. 5 defeat to Chelsea, and Mourinho recently hinted at a potential January exit for the 28-year-old, per BBC Sport's Simon Stone.

The former Borussia Dortmund star, who joined United in July 2016, started the 2017-18 campaign in fine fashion, providing five assists in United's first three Premier League games.

However, his creativity seemed to desert him after August, and he became increasingly less influential. As a result, Mourinho sidelined the player, and it does not look like he will be returning to the first team anytime soon.

It may not be the most sensible idea to get rid of him in January, though, as United would be left with little cover for the No. 10 role.