Alexis Sanchez moving to Manchester United?

 

Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez will not join Manchester United unless Henrikh Mkhitaryan goes the other way, according to the Armenian’s agent Mino Raiola.

United are leading the race for Sanchez, in the final six months of his contract, and are prepared to meet Arsenal’s £35million price tag or use Mkhitaryan as a makeweight.

The 28-year-old was left out of the United side that beat Stoke 3-0 on Monday, with Jose Mourinho confirming that “there are doubts about his future”.

Taking Mkhitaryan as part of the Sanchez deal could be a valuable salve for Arsenal, who are hoping to reunite him with former Borussia Dortmund team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

“Manchester United is not going to sign Sanchez unless Mkhi agrees to join Arsenal,” Raiola told The Times.

“Mkhi is going to do what is best for him. He has two-and-a-half years left on his contract, so it’s his decision.”

Mkhitaryan has also been linked with a return to Dortmund having struggled to live up to Mourinho’s demands for him. He has made 63 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils since joining for £30m in the summer of 2016, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists.

 The Sanchez camp are also asking for: 

• A minimum salary of £300,000-a-week
• A signing on fee of up to £20m
• His agent wants a £10m fee

United are expected to meet those demands, but the Sanchez transfer could be held up as Henrikh Mkhitaryan is still deciding whether to move to the Emirates as part of the deal. Mkhitaryan was left out of the United squad for Monday's win over Stoke and his manager Jose Mourinho confirmed afterwards the players was absent to "protect the situation".Arsene Wenger wants to explore Anthony Martial’s availability, but the Frenchman's inclusion in the win over Stoke suggests Mourinho is not willing to let him leave.