Manchester United want Alexis Sanchez transfer done by weekend but are waiting on Mkhitaryan

Manchester United now have their own player Henrikh Mkhitaryan standing between them and confirming the signing of Alexis Sanchez – one way or another.

Chelsea are out of the race, as are Manchester City, with the Blues opting to pursue a move for West Ham United’s Andy Carroll to back-up Alvaro Morata instead, leaving United with a ‘free run’ at Sanchez.

Arsenal initially wanted Anthony Martial as a makeweight – something that was dismissed out of hand by United – but are happy to let Mkhitaryan leave, something that seems essential to facilitate Sanchez’s Old Trafford arrival.

Jose Mourinho left Mkhitaryan out of his squad to face Stoke City on Monday night because of the “speculation” around his future while The Independent also understands he wants to bring his first-team squad size down to 22 – meaning one will leave if Sanchez arrives.

On Monday the deal was “75 per cent” agreed between United and Arsenal – as are personal terms with Sanchez – but the sticking point is Mkhitaryan’s wage demands, which are so far not only preventing a move to the Emirates but also his preferred transfer of a return to Borussia Dortmund.

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However, Mkhitaryan can only move back to the Westfalenstadion for the wages his agent Mino Raiola is demanding if Dortmund can free up the funds by getting rid of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who Arsenal are also interested in. Once the Gunners make a breakthrough with either one of those players, the Sanchez deal will be a mere formality.

Raiola has insisted it is Sanchez who is the makeweight in Mkhitaryan’s transfer to Arsenal, and not the other way around.

“Manchester United are not going to sign Sanchez unless Mkhi agrees to join Arsenal,” he told The Times. “Mkhi is going to do what is best for him. He has two-and-a-half years left on his contract, so it’s his decision. Sanchez is part of the Mkhi deal, not the other way around.”

Mourinho said on Monday he would have preferred the transfer window had already closed so the deal would have been pushed through, but it is hoped that Sanchez will be a Manchester United player by the end of the week and make his debut away to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.

United have already reserved the No 7 shirt for Sanchez – one previously being held in the summer for the imminent arrival of Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, which never happened.