Steve McClaren has warned Alexis Sanchez’s wages could create dressing-room disharmony at Manchester United.
Sanchez is expected to complete his move to Old Trafford from Arsenal on Monday, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving in the opposite direction.
The 29-year-old Chile forward is set to become United’s best-paid player, with some reports putting his salary at £400,000 per week.
“Wage parity is very important to players. Yes, they find out – at all levels – and if someone is paid a lot higher than others that can cause a problem.
“In the short term I don’t see a problem, but in the long term for Manchester United they will have to solve that problem.
“The others will be looking at renegotiation next season or the season after and getting to that (wage) level if they think they are at that level.”
But McClaren believes United have struck a major blow by landing Sanchez, who has scored 80 goals in 166 appearances at Arsenal.
“Any manager worth his salt would love to have Sanchez in their team,” McClaren told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan turns 29 today. Will he end his birthday as an Arsenal player? #AFC #MUFC pic.twitter.com/nBIJyYxLwu
— PA Dugout (@PAdugout) January 21, 2018
“Sanchez coming in for the second half of the season at Manchester United is a huge boost to them.
“He has got that experience and toughness, he wins games and he is a leader.
“It will lift the level of the whole club.”
Press Association Sport understands that both Sanchez and Mkhitaryan are set to undergo medicals on Sunday, with the swap deal likely to be formally announced on Monday.
