Ashley Young transfer to Inter Milan hinges on Manchester United decision

United left to decide whether captain leaves this month or in summer

Manchester United captain Ashley Young (Getty Images)

Ashley Young is prepared to join Internazionale this month if Manchester United sanction their club captain's departure.

Young's current Old Trafford contract expires at the end of the season and the 34-year-old has held positive talks with the Serie A club.

Whether Young joins Inter during the current transfer window or in the summer now hinges on United, though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may decide to postpone any move until the summer.

Solskjaer was reluctant to respond to speculation regarding Young on Tuesday night after United's EFL Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City.

But the United manager appeared to suggest he is reluctant to letting any players leave in January without strengthening in the same position.

"Tonight is not the time to talk about players leaving," Solskjaer said. "We can’t weaken ourselves, we have to strengthen ourselves."

Young was not named in United's match day squad for the defeat to City and is one of several full-backs available to Solskjaer.

Brandon Williams has emerged to provide competition for Luke Shaw on the left, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is covered by Diogo Dalot on the right.

Young has appeared to fall down the Old Trafford pecking order. After playing nine consecutive Premier League games between August and early November, he has played just three times in the competition since.