Sanchez for United at last as Mkhitaryan says yes to Arsenal

ALEXIS SANCHEZ will become a Manchester United player after Henrikh Mkhitaryan agreed to complete a swap deal with Arsenal. Mkhitaryan bid a tearful farewell to his team-mates yesterday as the final obstacle to United signing Sanchez was removed. The Armenian’s switch had been holding up negotiations after his agent warned the midfielder could scupper the Sanchez deal. But an hour after Jose Mourinho confirmed Mkhitaryan would be left out of United’s squad to face Burnley today, the player said an emotional goodbye after training yesterday. ‘It was very tearful,’ said a United source. ‘Henrikh has been a popular figure here. He isn’t too happy with the way this deal has been forced upon him. He realises he has more chance of playing at Arsenal but would have preferred to leave on his own terms.’ Sanchez trained with Arsenal yesterday but will not be involved against Crystal Palace today. It is understood United will pay £35million for the Chile star, including a £20m transfer fee to Arsenal and £15m to the player’s agent. Sanchez will earn £350,000 a week plus an extra £100,000 a week to make up his signingon fee over the course of a four-and-a-half-year contract. Part of the reason Arsenal agreed to sell him to United is that they wanted Mkhitaryan, who was linked with the Gunners when he joined United for £26m from Borussia Dortmund 18 months ago. United’s valuation of Mkhitaryan is also £35m but negotiations over a straight swap had dragged on due to the complexities of the deal. The Armenian, who earned £140,000 a week at United, is now set to become the highest earner at Arsenal. Mourinho insisted yesterday that signing Sanchez in the January transfer window should not be seen as a panic buy and more a reflection of the player’s quality. ‘If you have the chance to sign a special player now, then you do it,’ said the United boss.