Man Utd star demands millions to leave as Sir Jim Ratcliffe given headache

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is reportedly demanding a multi-million pound pay-off to leave Manchester United. The defender is open to joining West Ham in an £18million transfer but the Hammers cannot afford his wage demands, potentially placing the deal at risk of collapse.

Wan-Bissaka has just 12 months remaining on his contract at United but the Red Devils are keen to receive a transfer fee for the 26-year-old this summer. He has been in discussions with West Ham for some time and seemed set to complete an exit from Old Trafford.

But the Sun reports that West Ham cannot match Wan-Bissaka’s wage demands and the player’s representatives want United to pay their client compensation. During talks with the Hammers, it is claimed that the former Crystal Palace star has been asking for an increase on the £90,000 he has collected throughout his five years at United.

If a move to West Ham falls through, Wan-Bissaka could wait until January when he will be free to agree a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club. That could bank him a large signing-on fee as a free agent, which he will become next summer.

The report claims that Inter Milan have expressed an interest in Wan-Bissaka. A switch to the Serie A giants is widely reported to have piqued the player’s interest.

United are keen to sell Wan-Bissaka this summer with Erik ten Hag wanting to upgrade on his options at right-back. The Red Devils have been strongly linked with a move for Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui, although a switch could rely on Wan-Bissaka leaving.

Wan-Bissaka’s situation gives Jim Ratcliffe and his senior INEOS colleagues a fresh headache in the transfer window, with him potentially choosing to run down his contract and leave for free next summer. That is why United want to offload him this summer and are hopeful that the former England U21 star can agree a deal with West Ham.

The Hammers have already spent around £100m on new signings this summer to bolster the squad inherited by new manager Julen Lopetegui. The former Wolves boss is claimed to want right-back competition for Vladimir Coufal but they are not prepared to meet Wan-Bissaka’s wage demands.

Meanwhile, United are hoping to accelerate their own transfer business over the coming weeks. Express Sport understands that senior Old Trafford figures are attending a major negotiations conference in Madrid today (Monday), where hundreds of other clubs will also be present.