Utd stars 'to donate to NHS in their coronavirus fight by taking 30% wage cut'

Manchester United players are set to donate millions to the NHS after agreeing to take a wage reduction.

Sportsmail understands that Old Trafford stars have agreed to forgo 30 per cent of their wages for one month on the proviso that the money is used to benefit hospitals and health centres throughout Manchester in the fight against the coronavirus.

Captain Harry Maguire was approached by chairman Ed Woodward about the idea.

The England defender opened up the initiate to the rest of the senior squad, who are believed to have overwhelmingly agreed.

There is a view at United as one of the richest and biggest clubs in world football, they want to be leading the way in the fight against coronavirus.

The generous gesture will see millions of pounds injected into the crisis that has taken grip of the nation.

The playing community have been criticised in recent days, particularly after their union the Professional Footballers Association publicly declared they would not be accepting pay cuts.

But players, in general, are desperate to do their part - and United players’ huge donation represents that feeling.

It was revealed back in October that United have racked up a staggering spend on player salaries, the highest ever reported by an English side.

Financial documents show the club's incredible £332million yearly wage bill is an all-time high that has grown by £100m - 43 per cent - in the past three years.

The figures come by way of Swiss Ramble, a financial blogger on Twitter, with United the first Premier League club to publish their numbers for 2018-19.

The wage bill shot up £36m from £296m to £332m in recent months, largely due to the club's outlay on improving the first team squad.

In the current squad, goalkeeper David de Gea, who earns £375,000-a-week, and midfielder Paul Pogba, who earns £290,000-a-week, are the biggest earners in the dressing room.

The £332m figure also includes seven months of wages paid to Alexis Sanchez, who earns £400,000 a week at Old Trafford.

Inter Milan, who took Sanchez on loan this summer, agreed to pay close to £4.5m of the Chile international's £21m annual salary, meaning United are still having to subsidise a significant portion of his wages.