Manchester United are getting a clear run at Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder.
The Daily Mail says it is understood that Chelsea and Manchester City have both been alerted this week to just how keen Sneijder is to leave Inter.
Sneijder has convinced himself Inter have no chance of closing the gap on rivals AC Milan in Serie A this season after their neighbours won the Italian league by six points last time round. With Inter currently unable to buy new players before they sell, their star asset has decided he has had enough.
Chelsea and City have told go-betweens that they will not sign Sneijder. One source at mega-rich City revealed last night that the combined cost of the transfer would be 'mind-blowing', such are Sneijder's personal demands.
All that remains now is to see whether United - Sneijder's first choice - can persuade the World Cup finalist to lower his wage demands and allow the transfer to happen. If and when that occurs, negotiations over the fee are expected to be relatively straightforward as Inter need to sell at least one big-money star this summer.
