Sanchez declaration presents Man Utd with tough financial decision

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Man Utd could be left with a difficult financial pill to swallow after the latest report stated Alexis Sanchez is ‘reluctant’ to accept a pay cut in order to facilitate his departure from Old Trafford.

The Chile talisman, 31, was the subject of a highly-publicised transfer from long-time rivals Arsenal in 2018.

Arriving on the back of three-and-a-half stellar years of service at the Emirates in which Sanchez became one of the world’s most feared forwards, expectations were high his talents would translate well to Man Utd.

However, the ex-Barcelona winger struggled from the get go, notching just five goals in 45 appearances leading to his loan exit to Serie A giants Inter Milan last summer.

The decision by Utd chiefs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to allow Sanchez to leave was initially criticised, but the continued development of Marcus Rashford and emergence of Mason Greenwood has largely offset Sanchez’s temporary departure.

With Utd keen to move on from ageing veterans and turn to youth, the belief is that Solskjaer would gladly sanction the sale of Sanchez in the summer, be it on a permanent basis to Inter, or elsewhere.

Sanchez is one of the club’s top earners, however, and finding a buyer is looking increasingly like an impossible task, especially after the latest report.

The Evening Standard reveal that the forward is ‘reluctant’ to take a pay cut to secure a move despite realising that he is firmly out of the managers plans.

 

The article notes that the player would prefer a permanent switch to the San Siro, but his loan stint in Milan has been far from successful, scoring just a solitary goal from 15 appearances in an injury-ravaged spell.

A shock switch to a mid-table Premier League side was recently touted, though the question of Sanchez’s lofty wages is one the club would find difficult to answer without significant subsidising from Man Utd if he refused to take a pay cut.

A further option the article cites is that Utd could simply pay Sanchez out of the rest of his contract in order to rid the books of his salary, though this would appear to be a last resort option.

Meanwhile, legendary Red Devils goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has weighed in with a strong opinion on whether Dean Henderson should oust incumbent stopped David de Gea.