Manchester United may land Alexis Sánchez without Mkhitaryan move

However, it is understood that if Mkhitaryan does not leave Mourinho believes that, given the club’s robust finances, Woodward could still sanction a move for a player who would potentially vastly improve United.

There is some disquiet at Old Trafford regarding Raiola’s stance and a view that he may be posturing.

As Mkhitaryan has regularly been omitted by Mourinho from the match-day squad his prospects of regular game-time would be bleak should he refuse to leave for Arsenal.

This may cause him to accept his career at United is over and agree the transfer.

Although Sánchez is out of contract in the summer and at 29 would have little or no sell-on value, Mourinho believes the forward would allow a step change in the side’s development. United are second in the Premier League but trail Manchester City by 12 points after 23 matches.

Manchester United could buy Alexis Sánchez from Arsenal even if Henrikh Mkhitaryan refuses to move the other way. José Mourinho hopes Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, would sign off a deal financed without money from the Armenian’s sale.

Mino Raiola, Mkhitaryan’s agent, has claimed his player holds the key to Sánchez’s transfer to United in a transaction that would be worth around £60m once the Chilean’s fee and that of his agent are factored in.

Sanchez’s playing style cannot be ignored here. He does not play with the languid grace of, say 36-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic, or even the intelligence and poise of Juan Mata, who is the same age as him. No, Sanchez is a selfish, snarling terrier of a forward, who plays only in brilliantly uncompromising vertical lines. His raw physicality has — and will continue to be be — his greatest asset.

With Manchester City now beyond the horizon and competition for the top-four fierce, that is the quality that most appeals to Mourinho at this juncture. But such an obdurate approach to the game means Sanchez’s performance levels are more likely to nosedive than smoothly curtail, especially considering he has played over 50 games for the past seven consecutive seasons. Not only does he offer precious little sell-on value, but —logically — precious few seasons left at the top, too.