Transfer Centre

Jose Mourinho: Alexis Sanchez move "so close" to completion

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 20 January 2018

Jose Mourinho expects Man United to get a deal over the line for Alexis Sanchez, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says that Henrikh Mkhitaryan must first agree terms.

Jose Mourinho has revealed that Manchester United are still desperately attempting to get a transfer over the line for Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez.

The Chile international has headed to the North-West to finalise terms with the Red Devils ahead of a proposed swap deal that will see Henrikh Mkhitaryan head the opposite way.

While Mourinho and Arsene Wenger expect the move to be completed in the coming days, the Arsenal boss has stressed that the deal is dependent on Mkhitaryan also agreeing terms at the Emirates Stadium.

"It's so close, so close, so close," Mourinho told reporters after his side's 1-0 win at Burnley. "I'm positive, I know my people are doing everything, absolutely everything they can.

"The owners [have given] the green light, Mr Woodward is working hard, everybody is giving everything they can, and I think they will be successful."

Wenger, speaking after Arsenal's comprehensive 4-1 win at home to Crystal Palace, added: "I expect it to happen, but I can't announce it. In the next 48 hours, it will be decided. Until it's over the line, you can't say it will happen.

"It happens only one way, if the other [deal] happens as well. That's why it takes longer as well because it is coordinated."

Sanchez is expected to be offered a four-and-a-half-year deal at Old Trafford worth £450,000 a week - the highest wage of any player in the Premier League.