ALEXIS SANCHEZ will likely join Manchester United within the next 24 hours, says Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Speaking after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, Wenger claimed Sanchez’s situation would be resolved within 48 hours but four days later there remains no agreement between Arsenal and Manchester United.
Sanchez has agreed a £500,000-a-week contract with United, which will make him the highest paid player in the Premier League.
United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been proposed as a potential makeweight in the transfer but he has been unable to agree terms on wages.
But in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash with Crystal Palace, Wenger was asked if the deal could happen within 24 hours and he confirmed it was likely.
Wenger said: ”It is a story that is well documented. I am not to add to that. It can happen, it can as well not happen – it is at that stage.
“If it doesn’t happen he will play on Saturday.
“I work on transfers for 30 years, it is likely to happen but at any moment things can breakdown.”
ALEXIS SANCHEZ TO MAN UTD LIVE UPDATES
Arsenal are understood to have refused to meet Sanchez’s £300,000-a-week wage demands placed in the summer.
The Gunners were all set to sell him to Manchester City back in August but a deadline day deal fell through.
Alexis Sanchez, who was keen for the move, continued to play for Arsenal for the first half of this season.
And Wenger insists he has not fallen out with the Chilean.
“No. I have no problem with Sanchez’s attitude,” he said.
“He was in training yesterday fully committed.
“He is 29 years old, the next contract will of course he very important to him.”
Asked if he regretted not selling Sanchez in August, Wenger replied: “Look, the problem was similar to what it is today. I only accept to let him go if somebody comes in instead of him.
“I would have let him go in the summer but it [getting a replacement] didn’t happen.”
United’s contract offer will see Sanchez rise to the top of the Premier League wages table.
The Red Devils are one of the biggest spenders on wages in the world.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have tried to stick to a wage structure even though it has led to the contract stand-off with Sanchez and his team-mate Mesut Ozil.
Wenger said of the contract offer to Sanchez: “We did the maximum we could afford to do, maybe one day I will come out with the numbers on that.”
Source:www.express.co.uk