AC Milan have signed midfielder Sulley Muntari on loan from city-rivals Inter until the end of the season.

Ghana international Muntari, whose contract with Inter expires in the summer, as made just four appearances in Serie A for the Nerazzurri this season.

"AC Milan announces it has acquired Sulley Muntari on a temporary loan," the Rossoneri said in a statement.

Milan opted to make a move for the 27-year-old after losing midfielder Alexander Merkel last week to a knee injury for two months.

Merkel only returned to Milan earlier this month in joint ownership from Genoa with the Rossoneri facing a shortage in midfield due to the injury problems of Mathieu Flamini, Gennaro Gattuso and Alberto Aquilani.

Former Sunderland player Muntari becomes Milan's fifth reinforcement in the winter transfer market and their second of the day after teenage Austrian striker Philipp Prosenik joined from Chelsea.