Alexis Sanchez's Manchester United transfer agreed but Henrikh Mkhitaryan demands are holding up the deal

Arsenal had been favouring United’s offer over Manchester City’s because it involved a player, but the Armenian’s preferred option is to go back to Dortmund

Miguel Delaney
Chief Football Writer
Wednesday 17 January 2018 03:24 EST
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The general terms of Alexis Sanchez’s move to Manchester United from Arsenal have now been agreed, but it is still open to question whether Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be part of the deal, meaning there is still a lot of negotiation left.

Arsenal had been favouring United’s offer over Manchester City’s because it involved a player, but the Armenian’s preferred option is to go back to Borussia Dortmund after an unhappy time in England so far, and it is understood that he and his representative Mino Raiola are demanding high wages to make the deal happen.

Arsenal are currently reluctant to come close to their demands.

While there is still an expectation United will eventually sign Sanchez whatever happens, the situation could yet rumble on for a few days.

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."

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