Manchester United will reportedly have to pay Alexis Sanchez £12m this season, even if the 30-year-old completes a loan-move to Inter Milan.
The two sides have been locked in talks for several weeks over the Chilean forward, who is believed to be keen on a return to Serie A.
According to ESPN, however, Inter are only willing to pay £4.5m of Sanchez's enormous £18m salary should he move to the San Siro.
The former-Arsenal man has already had to take a 20% pay cut this summer after United's failure to qualify for the Champions League last season.
Sanchez has only scored five goals in 45 matches since swapping the Emirates for Old Trafford 18 months ago, but is said to believe a move to Serie A could revitalise his career.
United's number seven scored 12 goals and assisted 10 in his final season at Udinese in 2010-11, scintillating form that earned him his move to Barcelona the subsequent summer.
