Manchester United Transfer News: Reds 'First in Line' in Milan Skriniar Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly "first in line" among the clubs showing interest in Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar, who is said to have hit a snag in his contract negotiations at the San Siro.

Daily Mail cited a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport, which said United are hopeful of intercepting with a move for Skriniar. According to Sport Witness, the Slovakian is seeking an annual salary of €3 million (£2.7 million), which is equal to roughly £52,000 per week (Italian salary figures are reported after tax).

Inter are only willing to offer €2.5 million (£2.2 million) per year, and the Red Devils may be ready to step in after offering €65 million (£57.9 million) for his signature in the recent past, per Sport Witness. 

The Nerazzurri moved over the summer to capture free agent Stefan De Vrij, who has started all three Serie A matches this season, while Skriniar has started twice and Joao Miranda just the once.

Skriniar was signed from Sampdoria for a reported €20 million last summer and has continued cultivating his practice as one of Serie A's most accomplished central defenders, with an acute knack for passing, per WhoScored.com:

Talks are described as being "in limbo," and although the 23-year-old has a contract until 2022, there seems some threat of discussions reaching a standstill if Inter don't move closer to Skriniar's wage request.

Sport Witness referred to Jose Mourinho's frustrations in trying to land centre-back targets such as Leicester City's Harry Maguire or Tottenham Hotspur star Toby Alderweireld over the summer. Skriniar, it seems, was another to be warded off a move to Old Trafford.

Football Italia corroborated Gazzetta's report of a rejected €65 million bid for the player over the summer, however, indicating the club were perhaps more serious than was evident about their recruitment intent.

Skriniar would be a sound investment, too, according to Serie A writer David Amoyal, who projected a high ceiling for the player among Italy's defensive elite:

The 6'2" Slovak is a tough figure but has shown some refined qualities during his two years in Serie A. So far this season, he's averaging the second-highest number of passes per game (87.5) at Inter, per WhoScored.com—only Marcelo Brozovic (96.7) averages more.

Miranda turned 34 years of age Friday and has a contract expiring at the end of this season, so it's difficult to envision Skriniar being allowed to leave when there are few more appealing successors in Europe. Andrea Ranocchia, 30, also has a deal expiring in June.

United face a tough task in convincing the Nerazzurri to part ways with their up-and-coming superstar, and the Italians may be best off biting the bullet and splurging to meet Skriniar's demands rather than risk losing him.