Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco have made initial contacts with Inter over the possibility of signing Portuguese international midfielder Joao Mario, Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia’s transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio reports.

According to the report, when contacting Inter, Monaco were told that by the Nerazzurri that they want €25 million for the former Sporting Lisbon player.

Furthermore, according to the report, Inter are keen to cash in on the player and therefore will not let him leave the club on loan, but will only let him part on a permanent basis.

Neither the price nor the Nerazzurri’s decision to only let Joao Mario part on a permanent basis, have scared or deterred the Ligue 1 outfit and according to Di Marzio, negotiations are expected to begin formally soon.

Joao Mario joined Inter in the summer of 2016, leaving Sporting for a reported fee of €45 million, after having won the Euro’s with Portugal.