48 HOURS
Sanchez mega-money switch to rivals United with flop Mkhitaryan going to Gunners
ARSENE WENGER admits Alexis Sanchez could join Manchester United within the next “48 hours” – with Henrikh Mkhitaryan heading the other way. United have launched a £35million playerplus-cash bid,
prompting Sanchez to be left out of Arsenal’s squad yesterday. They are in advanced talks after blowing Manchester City out of the water with a massive contract offer.
Wenger admitted he wants the situation resolved as quickly as possible with United offering Mkhitaryan as part of any deal, while Arsenal also want Bordeaux’s £35m-rated Brazilian forward Malcom.
The Gunners are also watching developments with Borussia Dortmund’s wantaway striker PierreEmerick Aubameyang.
Sanchez’s agent Fernando Felicevich is travelling to Manchester to negotiate the deal after United offered a contract worth £400,000-a-week, a £30m signing-on fee and huge agent fees. Gunners boss Wenger said: “It will be decided in the next 48 hours. It was a bit difficult for him because he was on stand-by.
“He did not refuse to play. He has always been committed until now but he could have moved yesterday, today or not.
“It could happen today, tomorrow or not at all.
“That’s why I took a decision not to select him. I didn’t want to travel with him and suddenly he goes somewhere.
“Look, if Sanchez goes we need to replace him. I say when you look at today, we missed many players in our squad.
“If players like Sanchez go, we have of course to respond to it.”
Wenger is a big admirer of Armenia captain Mkhitaryan, who was offered to him before he moved to Old Trafford. Now that could move happen with United keen to keep Anthony Martial whom Arsenal also rate highly.
Player-plus-cash deals are notoriously difficult to do but United are desperate to get it done even if the valuation of Mkhitaryan in the package has yet to be agreed.
Sanchez’s absence cast a big cloud over Arsenal’s preparations for their defeat at Bournemouth.
Wenger added: “It’s very frustrating, especially when you’re 1-0 up.
“We made some mistakes in areas where you wonder where they come from.
“We didn’t look dangerous enough and we were not sound enough at the back.”