Manchester City threaten to walk away from Sanchez deal as Mourinho hints at interest

Manchester City could walk away from a deal to sign Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, as Manchester United pursue their own interest in the Chilean.

Sanchezhaslongbeenatarget for City but the Premier League leaders feel the overall cost to sign the forward this month – including transfer fee, agent costs and wage demands – is currently too high and must come down.

The 29-year-old is out of contract in the summer and City would hope to do a deal for around £20 million, yet it is believed they have been quoted £35m.

Pep Guardiola’s club are thought to be unconcerned that their stance opens the door for another club to step, even if that team is United.

Old Trafford manager Joe Mourinho did little to quash any potential move from United.

“I don’t think it’s correct to say things about Alexis Sanchez,” he said.

“At the general level, what I can say is that myself and the Manchesterunitedboard,we don’t believe a lot in the January market. We don’t believe in signing players just to sign a player, just to do something.

“What we believe really is that there are some players in the football world, if you have a chance to sign them, it doesn’t matter if it is in January, March or July you have to try. But in relation to Alexis Sanchez, I don’t say a word.

“The only word I can say is the same word that everybody says, he’s a phenomenal player. Apart from that, [he’s an] Arsenal player, I feel I shouldn’t say much more than this.”

The Scottish Professional Football League is close to agreeing a new and improved sponsorship deal with Ladbrokes. The bookmaker currently pays around £2 million per season for sponsorship rights to the four divisions.

The new deal is reportedly worth around £5m over two years and is expected to be announced at the SPFL’S general meeting on Friday.

Dundee defender Jon Aurtenetxe has extended his contract until the end of the season. The Spaniard joined the club on a six-month contract in the summer.