Nani could be sweetner in Sneijder transfer

Nani could be sacrificed by Manchester United to enable them to land top summer transfer target Wesley Sneijder.

Although Sneijder has indicated he is happy at Inter Milan , Sir Alex Ferguson has not given up hope of signing the £35million-rated Holland World Cup star.

And Nani, who will be forced even further down the midfield pecking order at United with the £16m arrival of Ashley Young next week, could be offered to Inter as bait to land Sneijder.

Nani enjoyed his best season at United last term. His nine goals and 18 assists in the Premier League were capped by his team-mates selecting him as their Player of the Year.

However, the 24-year-old is said to be open-minded about the prospect of leaving Old Trafford this summer after losing his place to Antonio Valencia towards the end of the season.

Valencia's successful return from a six-month lay-off with a broken ankle came at the expense of Nani, who only made the bench for the the 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

The arrival of Aston Villa and England midfielder Young, who can operate on either flank and through the middle as a second striker, will pile further pressure on the Portugal international to keep his place.

Ferguson will have an abundance of wide players in Young, Valencia, Ji-Sung Park, Nani and Tom Cleverley, who has returned from a loan spell at Wigan, while Ryan Giggs can still operate out there if required.

If United can also pull off a major coup by signing Samir Nasri from Arsenal - with intermediaries from both camps having met to discuss a potential deal -Nani would be the most likely player to exit Old Trafford.

Although Sneijder's £175,000-a-week wage demands and Inter's asking price could ultimately scupper any deal, United are said to be exploring every possibility - which could include Nani going the other way in part exchange.