Manchester United and Inter agree €40m fee for Wesley Sneijder as negotiations continue on personal terms
The Premier League champions will step up negotiations with the Dutch international's representatives as they seek a compromise over his €227,000-a-week stance
Jul 14, 2011 1:44:00 PM
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Wesley Sneijder - Inter (Getty Images)
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EXCLUSIVE
By Sergio Chesi &
Wayne Veysey
Manchester United have agreed a €40 million club record fee with
Inter for the transfer of
Wesley Sneijder,
Goal.com can reveal.
But Sneijder's wage demands are currently holding up the deal from being close to completion. Sources have told Goal.com that the player's camp have indicated they want around €227,000-a-week but United are reluctant to pay more than €193,000-a-week.
Nevertheless, the Premier League champions are hoping to reach a compromise over the difference as the prospect of a switch that would smash United's transfer record grows increasingly likely.
Senior officials from the two clubs are understood to have shaken hands on the terms of the deal after United chief executive David Gill made it clear the Premier League champions are willing to meet Inter's asking price in a series of meetings in recent days.
United have confirmed that Gill was in Zurich on Wednesday, where an Inter delegation was also present, to attend a European Club Association meeting but an Inter source told Goal.com that he had been in Milan on Tuesday and early on Wednesday to lead Sneijder negotiations with another Old Trafford director.
On his way | Dispute over the Dutchman's wage demands is the only obstacle for United
United's focus will now turn to agreeing personal terms with the Holland international, who is regarded by the club as a natural heir to the recently retired Paul Scholes. An official bid will follow if the 19-times English champions are confident they can meet the player's demands.
It is believed that the 2011 Champions League finalists could attempt to meet the shortfall in the two parties' positions with bonus-related payments or an enhanced image rights deal
Sneijder is currently at Inter's pre-season training camp at Pinzolo in Italy. The deal will now depend on his desire to force through a move to Old Trafford, which offers him an excellent chance to add to an already impressive medal haul which includes domestic titles in Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, in addition to the 2010 Champions League.
He has a contract at San Siro that expires in 2015 and would be content to see it out if a transfer fails to materialise this summer, hence his reluctance to agitate in public for a move.
New Inter manager Gian Piero Gasperini has told the Inter hierarchy that he does not see the Holland star as indispensable as he prepares to field a new 3-4-3 formation next season.
