Alexis Sanchez could MISS latter stages of Europa League if loan extension cannot be agreed

Alexis Sanchez faces missing out on the Europa League’s final stages if Inter Milan cannot agree a fresh long-term deal with Manchester United.

Sanchez can play in Inter’s last 16 tie against Getafe on Wednesday, hosted in Gelsenkirchen, before his season-long loan finishes on Thursday.

But United are unwilling to sanction a short-term extension until the end of the month, leaving Inter with a race against time should they want the Chilean for the mini-tournament in Germany, with their potential quarter-final taking place on Monday.

Alexis Sanchez will currently be unavailable for Inter if they reach the Europa League last eight

Sanchez’s loan deal expires on Thursday, but he is available to Antonio Conte on Wednesday

It puts Sanchez in a situation of uncertainty, with talks still ongoing between the two clubs over another potential season-long loan or permanent switch.

Sanchez would not be able to face United in a possible Europa League final, but his parent club do not want to help strengthen a rival in the competition before then regardless without a new agreement having been reached.

Manchester United do not want to strengthen a potential rival in the Europa League

United have subsidised a large portion of the forward’s wages during his time at the San Siro and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not see a future at Old Trafford for the 31-year-old.

Sanchez has scored four goals in his season at Inter, with three coming in the last month as they finished a point behind Serie A champions Juventus.

Inter boss Antonio Conte’s relationship with the Inter hierarchy is strained, the former Chelsea manager suggesting the board was ‘weak’ after the league’s conclusion over the weekend. Conte wants more finance to be able to narrow the gap with Juventus.