The Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap deal has cost Manchester United and Arsenal a staggering £46.5million in salary alone, according to reports.
Former Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho orchestrated the mega-money deal 19 months ago, beating Manchester City to the signing of the Chilean and offering up Mkhitaryan as a makeweight.
But this summer both players left their respective sides with Sanchez signing for Inter Milan on loan for the season, and the Armenian joining Roma on a temporary basis.
United's pocket has been hit the hardest with Sanchez's mammoth salary costing the Old Trafford club a staggering £24.9million since he signed.
The Red Devils will also have to continue paying a supplement of his wages while he is in Italy, which will cost them a further £6.5million, report the Daily Mail.
Arsenal on the other hand have shelled out £15.1million on Mkhitaryan's wages since he penned a contract with the north London club.
One saving grace for the Gunners is that Roma have agreed to cover the midfielder's full wages for the duration of his loan spell.
The Italian giants have also paid Arsenal a loan fee of around £3.5million for Mkhitaryan.
A blow for both the Gunners and Man United is that neither Italian club has an obligation to buy either Sanchez and Mkhitaryan at the end of the season, meaning the already huge figure both clubs have paid on wages could still rise.
