1 Sebastien Coates is currently on loan at Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon

AC Milan are considering a shock move for Sunderland outcast Sebastien Coates, according to reports in Italy.

The former Liverpool defender is currently out on loan at Sporting Lisbon, who have the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

However, the Uruguay international may have other options.

AC Milan chief executive Marco Fassone and sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli were both in attendance when Sporting took on Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

And, according to Gazzamercato, it has been suggested that the duo were keeping an eye on Coates as they look to bolster their defensive unit.

The 26-year-old is under contract with the Black Cats until 2019 but Sporting could sign him for a relatively modest £4.3million under the terms of the loan.

And it is likely that AC Milan would have to pay more than that to land him from Sunderland should Sporting decide against making the move permanent.