Manchester United are finally set to be rid of Alexis Sanchez once and for all - getting a potential £55million off their books.
The Chilean misfit has agreed terms to cancel his contract at Old Trafford, to seal a move to Inter Milan.
Sanchez is set to sign a three-year deal with the Nerazzurri after agreeing to effectively rip up his contract at United.
He scored just five times in 45 games during an 18-month period at Old Trafford, before being dumped on loan last August.
He has since impressed sufficiently at San Siro that Inter want to keep him long term.
But for Inter to secure a deal and end Sanchez’s Manchester nightmare for good, both he and United have had to compromise.
The 31-year-old had two years remaining on his deal, after joining from Arsenal in January 2018 on a four-and-a-half year contract until the summer of 2022.
The contract had United booked in to pay £400k-a-week, potentially rising to £560k-a-week with add-ons.
All in, United were liable to the tune of almost £55million - although the more realistic figure, given he wouldn’t be achieving his bonuses while not playing, is closer to £38million.
The Premier League club, who are in Europa League action on Wednesday night, had initially been keen to land a transfer fee of around £15million to sell Sanchez.
But amid the ongoing financial impact of the coronavirus crisis, Inter are in no position to splurge.
Nor are they in a position to pick up Sanchez’s full salary - United have been paying £175k-per-week of his £400k basic while he has been out on loan.
As such, United have had to compromise, and won’t get a fee from Inter.
They are also paying off Sanchez with an unspecified sum - unlikely to become known until United’s next set of end-of-year accounts - as he has agreed to take a much lower wage to remain in Italy. That figure is reportedly around £130k-a-week, after tax.
United have been desperate to get Sanchez off their books once and for all as they move forwards.
Finally doing so allows them more breathing room, as they prepare to continue Solskjaer’s rebuild, with Jadon Sancho closing on his move from Borussia Dortmund.
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