Manchester United are ‘raising the wall’ in front of Inter Milan and Roma, who are trying to secure loan extensions for Chris Smalling and Alexis Sanchez.
The United duo have spent the season on loan in Italy, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer making it clear last summer that he was not part of their plans.
Both players have rebuilt their reputations – Smalling more successfully than Sanchez – and Inter and Roma are keen to keep them as long as possible.
Both clubs want to extend their loan deals to cover the return of the Europa League later this year but, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Manchester United have said no to their proposals so far.
The ‘momentary no’ does not, however, mean that an agreement cannot be reached in either case.
In Sanchez’s case, he has returned from lockdown in good form and is ‘proving to be important’ to Antonio Conte’s side, so much so that the chance of him rejoining the club next season can still be ‘considered possible’.
Roma, meanwhile, continue to ‘preach optimism’ when it comes to Smalling.
They are ready to put €14m on the table to sign him, but Manchester United want more, particularly as he has suitors in the Premier League.
The Italians have an ‘ace up their sleeve’, though, and that is Smalling’s desire to stay in Rome after an impressive season at the club.
He’s even willing to reduce his wages – he currently earns around €3m plus bonuses – although Roma had been hoping his representatives would have pushed more in negotiations with United.
The door for a move remains ‘ajar’, and the Serie A side have even signed a young striker, Suf Podgoreanu, who is represented by the same group as Smalling, to try and convince them they do not want to lose the centre back.
Until Manchester United lower their demands, though, it seems deals for him and Sanchez will very much be stuck in limbo.
