Manchester City are lining up an offer for Inter Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar in the January transfer window, according to Calciomercato.com.

The Italian website reports that the Citizens have had previous enquiries knocked back by the Nerazzurri for the Slovakian international but they will make another attempt in the New Year.

Skriniar has been heavily linked with Manchester United over the past twelve months but the centre-half signed a new four-year contract in May and speculation has died down since then.

However, it appears City’s need for another defender to replace the injured Aymeric Laporte may force them into the market. The Frenchman is expected to miss the first half of the campaign after damaging knee ligaments in the 4-0 win over Brighton last week.

Skriniar is widely regarded as one of the best young centre-backs in Europe but Inter will be very reluctant to sell the 24-year-old and it could take a sizeable fee to prise him away.