Manchester United are said to have rejected a request from Inter Milan to extend Alexis Sanchez's loan to allow him to play in the Europa League next month.
Sanchez joined the Italian giants at the start of the season and has had a mixed spell at the club, showing occasional flashes of brilliance but also suffering recurring injury problems.
Inter, like United, are still involved in the European competition, which gets back underway on August 5, but Sanchez's loan deal is set to expire just before then.
Antonio Conte wants to keep Sanchez in his squad for the mini-tournament, but according to Sky Sport Italia's Gianluca Di Marzio United are reluctant to do so as they do not wish to strengthen a direct rival for the trophy.
If Inter were to keep Sanchez he could even face his parent club in the final if both teams made it that far, with UEFA rules stating loan players are able to face their parent clubs, so it is perhaps understandable that United are wary of that scenario playing out.
The Red Devils had already agreed to extend Sanchez's loan once, allowing him to complete the Serie A season after it was delayed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
But now it seems they are only willing to let him go if it is a permanent deal.
It remains to be seen if Sanchez ever plays for United again, with the club thought to be desperate to sell him this summer.
His wage demands pose a big problem, however, with the 31-year-old earning an eyewatering £350,000-a-week at Old Trafford.
Inter are thought to be open to the idea of signing the player permanently, but would no doubt demand that he takes a significant pay cut in order to do so.
