Henrikh Mkhitaryan is set to stay at Manchester United this month - because he is simply too expensive.
The Armenian international, 28, has spent much of the last three months exiled by Jose Mourinho, after the Portuguese accused the £27million midfielder of "disappearing" in matches earlier this season.
Mkhitaryan has since been recalled to the first team, but failed to impress when handed the opportunity and was back on the bench for the January 1 win over Everton.
He has continued to be linked with the Old Trafford exit, with both former club Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan mooted as potential destinations.
However, both sides insist they simply cannot afford to take the 28-year-old this month, both because of a transfer fee and his £140,000-a-week wages.
Dortmund already have a number of players playing in Mkhitaryan's old position - including US prodigy Christian Pulisic, Mario Gotze and former United midfielder Shinji Kagawa - and are set to be bolstered further by Marco Reus' return from injury.
BVB chief Hans-Joachim Watzke also told Bild earlier this week: "I know the economic data of his transfer to Manchester United and that’s why it’s imaginable only with great imagination."
It's also understood Dortmund were furious with how Mkhitaryan's departure was steered by his agent, Mino Raiola, 18 months ago.
Additionally, speaking ahead of his side's Serie A clash with Fiorentina this weekend, Inter boss Luciano Spalletti declared the Nerazzurri won't move for either Mkhitaryan or PSG playmaker Javier Pastore.
"Mkhitaryan, [Javier] Pastore and then...you see? You need €30-40million to buy them. We don't have it.
"It's no use beating about the bush -- I've been told that we can't spend €40million, so there's no point even talking about it.
"Maybe you could have an exchange of players on loan, but then you would need, for example, Manchester United to want one of our players, but you've both got to have the same intentions.
"Everybody has to align with this FFP and nearly everybody needs to bring in more money."