Wenger Confirms Sanchez Is In Manchester To Finalise Mkhitaryan Swap Deal

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Sanchez reportedly agreed to join United early last week but his proposed switch to Old Trafford was put on hold while Arsenal tried to agree terms with Mkhitaryan after Wenger demanded he was included in a swap deal. News broke late on Friday night that Sanchez had said his goodbyes to team mates and left the Arsenal team hotel in London after a breakthrough in negotiations. Wenger had initially taken Sanchez with the rest of the Arsenal squad to their team hotel and was tempted to play him against Crystal Palace today if no deal had been agreed. However, the breakthrough meant Sanchez was allowed to leave the squad and the Mirror claim the Chilean international travelled to Manchester where he’s expected to have undergone his medical today ahead of his move to United. Wenger has now confirmed that Sanchez is in Manchester and he expects the transfer to go through in the next 48 hours while he also reiterated that Sanchez will only join United if Mkhitaryan comes in the opposite direction. Speaking to Arsenal.com after today’s 4-1 win over Palace, Wenger said:

on whether he was tempted to pick Alexis today…

Yes.

on why he didn’t select him…

I didn’t play him because there is the question of him moving to Manchester United. He could not drive up north and as well play football. That’s difficult. So that’s why I decided to leave him out.

on whether that means Alexis is up north…

Let me think… yes.

on whether the deal will happen today, tomorrow or further into next week…

I expect it to happen, maybe. But I cannot announce it. In the next 48 hours, it will be decided one way or another. With these kind of things, as long as it is not over the line, you cannot say that it will happen. The negotiations become more and more longer and edgy as well because every detail becomes public nowadays. I cannot say it will happen or not happen. If you want to have a bet… it could happen.

on whether Mkhitaryan is going to come to Arsenal as part of the deal…

It happens only one way if the other way happens as well. That is why it takes longer as well, because it has to be coordinated and so the pace of advancing on both sides has to be adjusted. There are contrasting reports on whether it will be a straight swap or if Arsenal will receive a cash payment as well as Mkhitaryan in exchange for Sanchez’s signature but it looks like this saga is close to the finish line.