End in sight
> Sanchez, Mkhitaryan set for medicals ahead of swap deal
ARSENAL FORWARD Alexis Sanchez and Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan were to undergo medicals yesterday as their swap deal neared completion, reports said.
Britain’s Mirror newspaper said Sanchez was due to arrive in Manchester with agent Fernando Felicevich while Sky reported that Mkhitaryan would have a medical in London.
Sky Sports News showed Armenian international Mkhitaryan, also 29, at a central London hotel yesterday alongside agent Mino Raiola ahead of his expected move.
The Mirror said the deals may not be officially completed until today as both Sanchez and Mkhitaryan are non-EU players and must have their work permits ratified by their new clubs.
Chile’s Sanchez, 29, is set to become United’s best-paid player, with some reports putting his salary at £400,000 (RM2.16m) per week, prompting a warning from former England boss Steve McClaren that his high wages could create dressing-room disharmony.
McClaren, who was Alex Ferguson’s assistant when Manchester United won the treble in 1999, said the Sanchez signing would be a major coup for the club but warned his earnings could unsettle other players.
“Wage parity is very important to players. Yes, they find out – at all levels – and if someone is paid a lot higher than others that can cause a problem,” he said.
“If he (Sanchez) is on the wages that is being bandied about then other players will know that when their contracts come up or they are in demand from other clubs,” he added.
But McClaren believes United have struck a major blow by landing Sanchez, who has scored 80 goals in 166 appearances at Arsenal.
“Any manager worth his salt would love to have Sanchez in their team,” McClaren told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Sanchez coming in for the second half of the season at Manchester United is a huge boost to them.
“He has got that experience and toughness, he wins games and he is a leader. It will lift the level of the whole club.”
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and United manager Jose Mourinho both said they expected the two-way deal between the Premier League rivals to go through.
“I expect soon or never,” Mourinho said after his side’s 1-0 win against Burnley.
“I think it is so close, so close, so close that if it doesn’t happen it’s not going to happen.”
“So I am positive, I know my people are doing everything they can – the owners with the green light, Mr Woodward working hard with Matt Judge and everybody is giving everything they can and I think they are going to be successful.”
After Mourinho saw a goal from Anthony Martial defeat Burnley at Turf Moor, the Portuguese boss admitted that the addition of Sanchez, and the extra competition he will offer in the forward positions, will be welcome.
“In this moment there is no competition for places, we have four attacking players for three positions, three are starting, one is on the bench,” said Mourinho.
“Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) for the whole season was not available and we look to the attacking areas and we need that extra internal competition.”
While Mourinho wants more competition in attack, his defence continues to perform well with second-placed United, 12 points adrift of runaway League leaders Manchester City, yet to concede a goal in 2018.
In fact, Mourinho’s side have now played 504 minutes since they last conceded – coincidentally in the 2-2 draw with Burnley at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.
“We defended well since the beginning of the season,” he said. “Normally we don’t concede many goals, the team is well organised, the defenders in form.
“David (De Gea) today I don’t remember anything important,” Mourinho added. – AFP