Manchester United Transfer News: Wesley Sneijder Pay Crisis Opens Free Option

Just when it seemed Wesley Sneijder's long-touted, yet ultimately fruitless, link to Manchester United was over, the player's future returns to the spotlight.

Sneijder has reportedly failed to receive his wages from Galatasaray for the last three months, a situation which could see the midfielder apply for free agency, as detailed by Dutch football specialist Elko Born:

Tancredi Palmeri of beIN Sports suggested that movement could be made soon:

Galatasaray were recently found to be in breach of UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules. The Turkish side recently paid hefty sums to lure a team of stars—including Sneijder, Didier Drogba and former manager Roberto Mancini—but have suffered with the depreciation of the Turkish lira, as reported by Onur Ant and Selcan Hacaoglu of Bloomberg.

In May, the club was forced to agree a deal with the private Denizbank in order to stop catastrophic losses. This saw a $129 million debt agreement take place, while other intricacies such as the lowering of interest-rate payments on loans was also put into motion.

Ant and Hacaoglu write that, before the agreement, "Galatasaray’s short-term debt was 14 times higher than its cash resources, with almost 168 million liras ($81 million) due in a year or less."

Such a situation has seen Sneijder go without pay for the last three months.

The player's wage demands were certainly a hot topic when it became clear he would leave Inter Milan. Sneijder was said to be asking for up to £240,000 per week for his services, per David Maddock of the Daily Mirror, a hefty sum considering a transfer fee still needed to be paid.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Sneijder admitted United's interest was "flattering," but that "it is very hard to leave Champions League football," as reported by Rajvir Rai of the Mail Online. Though United remain out of European competition, they have no problem delivering wages of up to £300,000 per week to the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao.

Galatasaray are currently fourth in the Turkish top flight, but they only have one point from two matches in the Champions League. The disappointing 1-1 home draw with Anderlecht was followed by a 4-1 whooping away at Arsenal, leaving Sneijder and his colleagues with plenty to do if they are to remain in Europe's elite competition after Christmas.

With Drogba and Mancini now gone, there is a sense that Gala's quick burst of superstardom has ended. Cesare Prandelli needs funds to close the nine-point gap which separated the side from champions Fenerbahce last season, something he is unlikely to receive anytime soon.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Sneijder would certainly fit in at Old Trafford. The addition of the creative midfielder would overlook the physical presence so desperately needed through the centre of Van Gaal's team, but the vision and the air of calm he brings to games would help United retain possession. If Sneijder arrived at Old Trafford, there is little doubt that Juan Mata's long-term prospects would be called into question even more feverishly by the British press.

Born believes it is unlikely that Sneijder will request to leave, however:

Free agency would allow Sneijder to exit at any time, meaning he wouldn't need to wait for January's transfer window to arrive. He could be pushed through the door in the winter if not, especially if Gala's financial troubles continue to mount.

While most United fans would probably agree that a 30-year-old Sneijder isn't worth a hefty transfer fee, should the option of grabbing him for free arise, it's likely Van Gaal would find it impossible to turn his former Netherlands colleague down.