Manchester United and AC Milan in talks to play friendly against each other to make up for Champions League absence

Neither club is in Europe this season and United have already confirmed their interest in playing lucrative friendlies to generate extra income

AC Milan have confirmed they are in talks with Manchester United about playing a prestige friendly in the new year.

Neither club is in the Champions League nor Europa League this season and they are exploring the options of playing each other in a lucrative one-off game, almost certainly in the Middle East.

United boss Louis van Gaal's plans for the teams had been a potential sticking point but he confirmed earlier this month that he backed the idea of meeting top-class opposition midweek.

AC Milan's director Umberto Gandini confirmed a friendly with United was on the agenda.