Manchester United To 'Pay Half Of Marouane Fellaini Napoli Wages' If Belgian Goes On Loan

Manchester United might have to stump up at least £1.6m towards Marouane Fellaini's wages if the Belgian moves to Napoli on loan.

The Belgian has been in discussions with the Serie A side about a move to Italy after failing to make an impact at Old Trafford last season.

The 26-year-old has been absent from United's pre-season tour of America after being given time to rest following Belgium's quarter final appearance at the World Cup in Brazil.

But as manager Louis van Gaal decides who features in his United plans and which players can be sold, Fellaini has already neared the exit door after Rafa Benitez offered him an escape route while guaranteeing him Champions League football.

Benitez sees Fellaini as the perfect replacement for Swiss international Valon Behrami, who departed Naples for Hamburg on a permanent deal.

But with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis looking to tighten his purse strings, it is unlikely Napoli will be able to afford to pay for the midfielder upfront.

It therefore looks probable that United and Napoli will shake hands on a 12-month loan deal with the option at the end of it for a permanent move.

Furthermore, De Laurentiis has reportedly asked United to fund half of Fellaini's £3.2m wages, plus any bonuses he accrues at the Italian club.

If United agree to the terms it means the Premier League club will end up paying at least £1.6m for a player who failed to score a single goal in 16 appearances for them last season and was widely criticised by fans.

Van Gaal is expected to tell those players he does not want at Old Trafford that their futures lie elsewhere in face-to-face meetings after United return from Miami, where they lifted the International Champions Cup following a 3-1 defeat over Liverpool on Tuesday.

Facing the chop are Nani, Wilfried Zaha and Javier Hernandez as well as Fellaini.