MAN UTD have finally got Alexis Sanchez's £505,000-a-week wages off their books with Inter Milan set to confirm his arrival on a free transfer.
That should free up funds for Jadon Sancho, who is said to have agreed a five-year deal with only the transfer fee still to be worked out with Borussia Dortmund.
Follow all the latest transfer updates and gossip from Old Trafford below…
PENNY DREADFUL
Alexis Sanchez cost Manchester United a staggering £20MILLION per Premier League goal and £28,800 per TOUCH thanks to his sky-high £505,000 a week wages.
The Chilean forward, 31, joined the Old Trafford ranks in January 2018 as part of a swap deal with Arsenal, as Henrikh Mkhitaryan moved the other way.
At the time, fans believed the club had played a blinder in signing a superstar without paying a penny.
However, the “free” signing has actually cost the club an eye-watering £60m – with just THREE Premier League goals to show for it.
GAB WANTS GUNNERS
Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes wants to move to Arsenal despite Manchester United chasing him, according to reports.
The Brazilian defender looks almost certain to leave the Ligue 1 side this summer and is said to have been particularly impressed by talks with the Gunners earlier this week.
Mikel Arteta is keen on bringing a defender in to shore up his leaky back line.
And he looks set to land one in the coming weeks in the shape of the £27million rated 22-year-old, according to Get French Football News.
However, United will reportedly not give up on their pursuit with a deal to take him to Old Trafford said to be close yesterday.
Magalhaes’ scintillating form in France has drawn admiring glances from across Europe, with Everton and Napoli also linked.
HE KAN DO IT
Paul Scholes has become the latest Manchester United legend to warn that signing Jadon Sancho may not be the best idea.
Harry Kane is a better bet for the Red Devils as they have a number of players similar to Sancho, the former midfielder reckons.
The 11-time Premier League winner told BT Sport: “Don’t get me wrong, Sancho is a top-quality footballer, I think he would improve any team in world football.
“His stats say that he is a goalscorer, he will make and score lots of goals.
“I just think we already have three forwards or wide men that are very similar to Sancho, possibly not quite as good as him, but potentially I think they could be.
“I think if that is Harry Kane you are talking about, I would be more desperate to sign him than Sancho at this stage.”
GO GITT'EM
Borussia Dortmund think they have found their ‘new Jadon Sancho’ in Manchester City starlet Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
The 15-year-old is set to leave the Etihad Campus despite impressing coaches at the club.
Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in the winger, but BVB are the front runners.
Former City youth product Sancho is set to move to Manchester United, but the two clubs are yet to thrash out an agreement on the deal, with Dortmund wanting £108million.
Marco Lichtsteiner, brother of Switzerland's captain Stephan Lichtsteiner is brokering both Sancho’s move to Old Trafford and the move for Byone-Gittens, according to Bild.
THIS IS THE QUESTION!
United fans will be asking this about the Alexis Sanchez transfer to Inter Milan.
Can Ed Woodward and Matt Judge get the deal for the England winger over the line?
ROLLER COASTER
There have been a lot of highs and lows for Alexis Sanchez in fairness.
SANCH SIRO
Inter Milan have announced they have signed Alexis Sanchez permanently, without paying a penny.
The move frees up £25million for the Red Devils in wages.
Inter said in a statement: “FC Internazionale Milano announces that Alexis Sanchez is moving to the Nerazzurri outright free of charge.
“The Chilean striker has signed a contract with the Club until 30 June 2023.”
HE'S GOT S-MART
Paul Scholes has hailed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for turning around Anthony Martial's form after the Frenchman became the Red Devils' highest goalscorer with his finish against LASK.
The former United midfielder said: “When Ole first came in, I don’t think Martial was hungry enough for goals, he didn’t lived on goals even in training, he wasn’t doing his finishing, doing his practicing.
“I think Ole’s really put that into him because he knows what he’s capable of, he’s quick, he’s skilful, he can fly past people.
“He’s very difficult to play against, but the lad had to improve his finishing and his goalscoring and there’s no doubt he’s done that this season.”
SCHO POOR
Paul Scholes has hit out at United’s “abysmal” recruitment after Sir Alex Ferguson retired – and is glad they’re cutting ties with Alexis Sanchez.
The Old Trafford legend said: “The sooner they got rid of him the better. He was really poor for Man Utd.
“When Sir Alex [Ferguson] left, it was just part of a four or five-year spell where the recruitment was abysmal to say the least and he was just a part of that.
“He looked a very good player at Arsenal, his previous club at Barcelona as well, but for some reason at Man United it didn't work.
“I'm just grateful Ole's come in now and the recruitment looks to really be going in the right direction.
“Hopefully they won't make a mistake like a Sanchez mistake that's been made over the last four or five years.”
PERFORMS WHEN IT MATAS
No player has provided more assists in the Europa League this season than Man Utd’s Juan Mata (5), with the Spaniard setting up both of the Red Devils’ goals against LASK.
NUMBER CRUNCHER
Here are Gabriel Magalhaes’ stats this season, with the defender attracting interest from Arsenal, Manchester United and Napoli.
Games played – 24
Goals – 1
Yellow cards – 3
Red cards – 0
Tackles – 41
Interceptions – 22
Duel win percentage – 67
Forward passes – 578
MARTIN BLACKBURN’S UTD VERDICT
All the talk recently has been of Manchester United’s other goalkeepers.
David De Gea has had some howlers since lockdown – most notably in the FA Cup semi final horror show against Chelsea at Wembley.
And Dean Henderson wants answers over his future – whether it is going to be back at Old Trafford, at Sheffield United or maybe Chelsea.
Meanwhile Sergio Romero – widely considered to be the best understudy in the Premier League – has had to sit quietly and listen to it all.
The Argentine is considered to be United’s cup keeper – and none of his 16 appearances this season have come in the Premier League.
So It was something of a surprise when Solskjaer opted for De Gea for the last four date with the Blues – and it was a decision that back-fired spectacularly.
Now Romero, 33, will be praying his boss shows more faith in him for the Europa League finals in Germany later this month.
READ MORE OF MARTIN BLACKBURN’S VIEW ON UNITED’S KEEPERS HERE
SMASH 'N GAB
Arsenal are making a move for Gabriel Magalhaes, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Gunners have been on the look-out to strengthen their defence.
And they are now ahead of Manchester United and Napoli in the race for the Brazilian, 22.
UNITED V LASK RATINGS – FORWARDS
Scott McTominay – 5
Given a chance to shine as a starter in place of in-form Nemanja Matic… but did little to prove why he should displace the Serb for the quarter-final.
Picked up a stupid yellow card before the break for a needless, late sliding challenge on Balic who was going nowhere in his own half.
One thing is guaranteed with the Scot and that is sheer hard work, demonstrated with some excellent tracking back in the late stages then moments later was at the other end to fire wide.
Fred – 5
A quiet and largely uneventful game for the Brazilian, who did nothing of note in the entirety of his 64 minutes on the pitch.
Was replaced by Paul Pogba, who will surely come back in from the outset on Monday.
Juan Mata – 7
Should have grabbed an assist within the first three minutes but fluffed his lines when all he had to do was thread the ball across to Ighalo.
Made amends with a cheeky chipped ball in behind the LASK back line to set Lingard away for the equaliser but still failed to take hold of the match as we have seen him do so effectively over the years.
UNITED V LASK RATINGS – MIDFIELD
Scott McTominay – 5
Given a chance to shine as a starter in place of in-form Nemanja Matic… but did little to prove why he should displace the Serb for the quarter-final.
Picked up a stupid yellow card before the break for a needless, late sliding challenge on Balic who was going nowhere in his own half.
One thing is guaranteed with the Scot and that is sheer hard work, demonstrated with some excellent tracking back in the late stages then moments later was at the other end to fire wide.
Fred – 5
A quiet and largely uneventful game for the Brazilian, who did nothing of note in the entirety of his 64 minutes on the pitch.
Was replaced by Paul Pogba, who will surely come back in from the outset on Monday.
Juan Mata – 7
Should have grabbed an assist within the first three minutes but fluffed his lines when all he had to do was thread the ball across to Ighalo.
Made amends with a cheeky chipped ball in behind the LASK back line to set Lingard away for the equaliser but still failed to take hold of the match as we have seen him do so effectively over the years.
UNITED V LASK RATINGS – BACK FIVE
Let's have a look at how the players got on last night.
Sergio Romero – 6
Was beaten all ends up by an early Andres Andrade header which looped back off the crossbar… and then by an absolute thunderous strike from Wiesinger which flew into the top corner.
But was solid enough between the sticks when dealing with balls into the box… with BT Sport analysing Romero claiming crosses at half-time due to the complete lack of meaningful action.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah – 5
As understudy to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, it was a performance similar to the former Crystal Palace man: solid defensively, a couple of nicely-timed slide tackles but looked a bit lost once in the attacking third.
And that was epitomised by a moment in the second half when the ball fell to him inside the box… but rather than hitting it first time, he took a touch then blasted over. D'oh!
Eric Bailly – 5
Brought back in following his head injury sustained in the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea.
But he was in the wars again when he took a stray knee to the head which momentarily threatened to cut his evening short. Defensively sound throughout.
Harry Maguire – 5
The Manchester United captain, playing his 59th match of the season, was one of the two defenders to keep his spot in the starting XI.
But with very little to challenge him in his own half, Maguire offered United's only threat in attack in the first half with statistically their only two shots – both headers off target – in a drab opening half.
Brandon Williams – 7
The academy graduate penned a new four-year contract at Old Trafford yesterday and celebrated by also staying in the team.
Probably should have topped it off with an assist when he made good ground down the left but his low cross managed to evade Daniel James and Lingard.
Luke Shaw, out for the rest of the campaign, was not missed again and will do well to earn his place back next season.
'AGENT RIO'
United fans are hailing 'agent' Rio Ferdinand after he unearthed a five-year old tweet of Jadon Sancho praising him.
The legendary Old Trafford defender grew up in Peckham in South London, which is where Sancho is also from.
Ferdinand, 41, tweeted a pair of sideways-glancing eyes after finding the old tweet.
United are locked in talks with Borussia Dortmund to sign the star winger, who scored 20 goals and provided 20 assists in all competitions for the German side last season.
'LEXIT
Alexis Sanchez will finally – and officially – leave Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed.
The £505,000-a-week flop's horror spell finally ends after the United boss revealed a deal was done.
Speaking after his side beat LASK 2-1 to confirm their safe passage into the Europa League quarter-finals, United boss Solskjaer was asked about the Sanchez transfer.
The Norwegian said: “I can confirm that.
“Alexis has had a good time over there, he's a good player and we wish him all the best.”
IF ONLY SO EASY
Jamie O'Hara thinks Man Utd will need TWO more signings after Jadon Sancho.
“I think obviously Manchester United are a huge football club anyway but they've been way off it,” the former Tottenham midfielder told talkSPORT.
“Yeah they finished third but everyone was kind of surprised at that in the end.
“But with a signing like Sancho, I think then you're talking like: 'Now we've got a proper squad here'. I think it would be a brilliant signing.
“I would say it puts them close [to being title contenders]. I think they're one or two signings off it.”
MORNING, UNITED FANS
United's march into the Europa League quarter-final has ALMOST overshadowed their Jadon Sancho saga.
Sub Anthony Martial burst through for his 23rd goal of the season late on for a below-par 2-1 comeback win against LASK at Old Trafford and a 7-1 aggregate success.
Frontman Martial earlier teed up Jesse Lingard's equaliser– a goal that failed to save the England midfielder from Paul Scholes predicting his exit.
Old Trafford legend Scholes told BT Sport: “Is he a starting XI player if you're going to go on to win the league and big trophies at Man United? I'm not sure he is.
“When Ole took him off after an hour, I thought it was a sign that Ole is probably thinking of moving him on…possibly with Fred as well.”
Meanwhile, United are still looking for a breakthrough with Borussia Dortmund over if and how the £108million asking price for England attacker Sancho will be paid.
And Old Trafford chiefs are said to be duelling with Arsenal for £27million-rated Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes.
The odds over the Brazilian's destination have veered one way and the other in the past 24 hours.
Finally, striking flop Alexis Sanchez should finally become an Inter Milan player on a permanent deal today.
'NOT BEEN GOOD ENOUGH'
Of Jesse Lingard, United legend Paul Scholes told BT Sport: “I do think when he's playing well he has something to offer.
“I think lately he hasn't been good enough really.
“Is he a starting XI player if you're going to go on to win the league and big trophies at Man United? I'm not sure he is.
“When Ole took him off after an hour, I thought it was a sign that Ole is probably thinking of moving him on.
“When you've got fringe players and you need to get them games, tonight was the perfect opportunity for 90 minutes.
“I don't think he was particularly great in the game. I don't think there's any way in the world he will start the game on Monday.
“I think that was a sign, possibly with Fred as well, maybe the situation. He might be thinking of offloading the pair of them.”
JESSE MIGHT NEED TO GO
Paul Scholes thinks Jesse Lingard's days are numbered at Manchester United.
The 27-year-old scored against LASK as the Red Devils progressed to the Europa League quarter-finals.
It marked the first time Lingard has scored in back-to-back games for United since 2018.
But he was hauled off in the 63rd minute and replaced by Paul Pogba.
Scholes in convinced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's decision to take him off is a huge sign that he is on his way out.
“WE'LL MAKE IT OFFICIAL TOMORROW MORNING”
Alexis Sanchez will be an Inter player in a matter of hours after being released by Manchester United.
Speaking before Inter's Europa League clash against Getafe in Germany, club CEO Beppe Marotta said: “Unofficially, we’ll make it official tomorrow morning.
“The player is entirely owned by Inter. We have a contract with him for three seasons.
“We believe in him, that he can be a strong part of this squad and are happy to have concluded this deal.”
AND HOW THE SUBS RATED…
Andreas Pereira (for Lingard, 64 mins) – 5
Lingard was aggrieved to come off after a better performance from the Englishman. Pereira moved on to the left but failed to make an impact.
Paul Pogba (for Fred, 64 mins) – 6
A gentle run around for the Frenchman who tried to pull the strings from his deep midfield role, almost finding James with one particular effort.
Tahith Chong (for Williams, 72 mins) – 5
Filled in at left-back but pushed right up as United looked for a winner on the night.
Anthony Martial (for James, 84 mins) – 7
Replaced the ineffective James for the final few minutes… and three minutes later he did more than the Welshman managed in 84 by showing quick feet and slotting in via the keeper's foot.
Teden Mengi (for Fosu-Mensah, 84 mins) – 5
Came on at right-back for his Manchester United debut, the eighth academy graduate to do so this season.
RATINGS CONTINUED
Jesse Lingard – 7
Deployed in the No10 and started brightly with a neat turn and delightful diagonal to set Mata away down the right.
With the game at risk of getting away from him, he got a crucial goal – more for him personally than the tie – as he raced clear and tucked home to add to his finish at Leicester.
Daniel James – 4
United may have been debuting their new kit but it was more of the same from James who continues to play like a man lacking confidence rather than the early-season sensation.
Got himself into some strong positions in dangerous areas but time and time again wasted his final ball. Swapped over to the right wing in the second half but it was more of the same.
Odion Ighalo – 4
Looking to maintain his 100 per cent goalscoring rate in matches he has started for Manchester United, almost did exactly that on the half-hour mark – cut inside well but didn't get a proper effort away.
Early on in the second half, should have opened the scoring but again, after a neat turn, his shot was far too tame and easily saved.
Against opponents he would have been keen to return to the goals against, was far too quiet throughout as he watched the game pass by.
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