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Henrikh Mkhitaryan agrees Arsenal move, Alexis Sanchez set to join Man Utd

By David OrnsteinBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Arsenalcomments1129

Mourinho & Wenger on Sanchez latest - before Mkhitaryan deal emerged

Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has agreed to join Arsenal, with Alexis Sanchez set to move in the opposite direction in a straight swap.

Armenia international Mkhitaryan, 28, will have a medical over Sunday and Monday, while Chile forward Sanchez, 29, will have his on Sunday.

The length of Mkhitaryan's contract, and his salary, is undisclosed.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had earlier said Sanchez would only join United if Mkhitaryan moved to Arsenal.

Sanchez missed Arsenal's 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

"He didn't play because you cannot drive up north and play football at the same time," said Wenger.

United boss Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, said a deal to sign Sanchez was "so close" following his side's 1-0 win at Burnley on Saturday.

An announcement is now expected in the next 48 hours.

The Red Devils beat Arsenal to Mkhitaryan's signature when he signed for the Old Trafford club for £26.3m from Borussia Dortmund in July 2016.

He has made 63 appearances for United - 22 this season - scoring 13 goals.

Sanchez, meanwhile, has scored 80 goals in 166 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal since joining them from Barcelona for £35m in July 2014.

The Chile international, whose contract Arsenal was due to expire in the summer, had looked set to join Manchester City last August. However that move fell through on transfer deadline day after Arsenal failed to sign a replacement.

It emerged this week that City had decided not to pursue their interest in signing Sanchez during the current transfer window.

Arsenal are now in talks with Dortmund about the potential signing of striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. They will need to pay in excess of £50m for the Gabon international, say sources close to the German club.

Analysis - 'Good business for both clubs'

Former England and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer on Match of the Day

I think it is good business for both clubs.

Arsenal are getting rid of a player who doesn't want to be there, but they are also getting a player whose face maybe didn't fit at United, but who is much better than he's shown at United.

Looking at Premier League data since each player arrived in England, Sanchez scores with more regularity while Mkhitaryan delivers assists at a quicker rate
Looking at Premier League data since Sanchez arrived in England in 2014 and Mkhitaryan joined United in 2016, Sanchez scores with more regularity while Mkhitaryan delivers assists at a quicker rate

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1129 comments

  • Comment posted by Stephen Taylor, at 21:00 20 Jan 2018

    As a United fan i'm sorry it didn't work out for Miki but I wish him all the best.

  • Comment posted by keepsportonterrestrial, at 20:55 20 Jan 2018

    Good deal for all, particularly the agents

  • Comment posted by BlueMooney, at 21:02 20 Jan 2018

    Just for his pure greed I hope Sanchez falls flat on his face!!! When you pay a man close on £400k a week to play football, you have to say the world has gone bonkers!!!!

  • Comment posted by footyfan94, at 21:00 20 Jan 2018

    Good deal for both sides. United get a world class player in Sanchez and Arsenal get a high quality player in Mkyhitaryan who can be sensational for Arsenal if he is played every game for a player who would have left in 6 months.

  • Comment posted by Cos-my-neighbour-said-so, at 20:58 20 Jan 2018

    Sanchez is not worth those wages .. end of !

  • Comment posted by UTC, at 20:55 20 Jan 2018

    £400k a week....no thanks.

  • Comment posted by William, at 20:56 20 Jan 2018

    Sanchez has to learn to reverse park a bus

  • Comment posted by Aminur, at 20:58 20 Jan 2018

    Straight swap with zero money changing hands. The agents should get x% of zero

  • Comment posted by Brown, at 21:13 20 Jan 2018

    Im a Man Utd fan but not a fan of this deal. Sanchez is there for the money, not the club. And arguably past his peak with only maybe 2 years left playing at the top level. He is the type who will moan when subbed off and cause disruption when not picked to start. AND it will derail the progess of Lingard, Martial, Rashford as 1 of them be playing less games now. Not worth it for 1 or 2 seasons

  • Comment posted by Springfowl, at 20:55 20 Jan 2018

    Straight swap? Well thank you very much Arsenal!

  • Comment posted by Knighton Palace, at 20:58 20 Jan 2018

    I like the idea of this straight swap deal !

    Any chance Palace can swap say Martin Kelly for Ronaldo ?

  • Comment posted by Vrellnexian, at 21:23 20 Jan 2018

    Let's get some facts straight:
    1. Alexis Sanchez is Arsenal's best player without a shadow of doubt
    2. Mkhitaryan is neither rated or wanted at United and can't get into the team. Hasn't started or played for a while.
    3. Sanchez is only 33 days older than Mikhi

    Now you tell me who is getting the better deal here.

  • Comment posted by Kane9, at 20:56 20 Jan 2018

    Wenger must stay. Love what he's doing for Arsenal.

  • Comment posted by yeah-no, at 20:59 20 Jan 2018

    Good for both clubs. Lets get on and play football now :)

  • Comment posted by GunnerBear, at 21:40 20 Jan 2018

    Probably a good deal for everybody. Notice how Arsenal played much better today without the Sanchez cloud hanging over the team? Of courze we will miss him but by how much is open to debate. To Sanchez it's all about him. Teams play better than individuals.

    He did some great things for us but created problems over the past 18 months which dragged us down. Revival time.

    Bye Alexis.

  • Comment posted by TudweiliogRed, at 22:17 20 Jan 2018

    It's a good deal for United.

    However I also wish that people would grow up i.e. it's not Farcinal / Maureen / Manure etc etc ! Would be nice to discuss things sensibly !!!!

  • Comment posted by Ace21, at 20:58 20 Jan 2018

    I adore Mikhi but he just hasn’t hit it off at United, I think that’s a lot to do with Jose’s not giving him confidence. Him and Shaw have had it tough under Jose and it’s a shame he is leaving.

    On the other hand, Sanchez is the better player so a great deal for United and Sanchez’s quality will lift the team. Really looking forward to seeing him play for United.

    A good deal for both clubs

  • Comment posted by Haggis, at 08:25 21 Jan 2018

    Am I the only Arsenal fan delighted to see Sanchez go? Yesterday, without him anywhere near the squad, they played for each other and with real energy. It is a team game after all.

  • Comment posted by Vox Populi, at 22:24 20 Jan 2018

    @302. I think this deal suits both Man Utd & Arsenal. People need to remember Sanchez could have left on a free this summer. Mhiktaryan definitely fits the Arsenal system more than he did Man Utd's. He's not an orthodox winger, and he's as talented a creative attacking midfielder as there is around, Man Utd didn't see the best of him. If Wenger can restore his confidence he'll be a major asset.

  • Comment posted by Glass Onion, at 21:17 20 Jan 2018

    United have created themselves a problem here if the stories are correct about Sanchez's wages. The other big names at Old Trafford, who are arguably bigger team players, won't be happy seeing someone come who has moved solely for the money as opposed to any genuine desire to play for them.