CAIRO, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund is in talks with Egypt about delaying a deal for a $4.8 billion IMF loan till January from this month, an official with knowledge of the discussions said on Tuesday.

The IMF board was scheduled to meet to discuss approving the loan on Dec. 19 after a preliminary agreement was reached during a visit by an IMF team to Cairo last month.

Asked if there were talks about delaying the deal till January, the official, who would not be identified, told Reuters: "This is correct." He gave no more details. (Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Hugh Lawson)