Sneijder Gets two-week deadline

ABOVE: United have set Sneijder a two-week deadline

Manchester United have set Wesley Sneijder a two-week deadline to join the champions.

United have spent the last two months trying to lure the Inter Milan and Holland star to Old Trafford in a £36m deal.

Boss Sir Alex Ferguson made him his No.1 choice to replace the retired Paul Scholes and landing Sneijder would take his summer spending over the £80m mark.

But the move has stalled due to his  cash demands and United are now running out of patience.

Sneijder wants in excess of £220,000 a week, but this would smash the rigid pay structure at Old Trafford and cause
problems in the dressing room.

Now United have told Sneijder their highest basic offer will be no more than £180,000 a week.

The take-it-or-leave-it deal will be on the table until the middle of this month.

United are confident they will land Sneijder but want him in place sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney wants to help United land the first psychological blow of the season at Wembley this weekend.

United meet Manchester City in the Community Shield and Rooney said: “Playing City is the best way to start.

“I hadn’t even thought about it until I turned on the telly the other night and someone was talking about potentially the best Community Shield ever.

“It’s a great way to start pre-season training, knowing that at the end of the hard work, before the games begin, there’s a Manchester derby.

“You couldn’t get better motivation to start the season with a bang.”