Arsene Wenger admits Alexis Sanchez could join Manchester United within the next “48 hours” - with Henrikh Mkhitaryan heading the other way.
United have launched a £35m player-plus-cash bid which is the reason why Sanchez was left out of Arsenal’s squad and they are now in advanced talks after blowing Manchester City out of the water.
Wenger admitted he wants the situation resolved as quickly as possible with United offering Mkhitaryan as part of any deal while Arsenal also want Bordeaux’s £35m-rated Brazilian forward Malcom.
Sanchez’s agent Fernando Felicevich is travelling to Manchester to negotiate the deal after United offered a deal worth £400,000-a-week, £30m signing-on fee and huge agent fees.
Gunners boss Wenger said: “It will be decided in the next 48 hours. It was a bit difficult for him because he was on stand-by. That's why I decided not to do it. He did not refuse to play.
“It's a difficult period for him (Sanchez). He's always been committed until now but he could have moved yesterday, today or not.
“I don't master the rhythm of that (the transfer) but it could happen today, tomorrow or not at all. That's why I took a decision [not to select him]… I didn't want to travel with him and suddenly he goes somewhere.
"Look, if Sanchez goes we need to replace him. I say when you look at today, we missed many players in our squad. And you say that they have a weight in the team.
“If players like Sanchez go, we have of course to respond to it. Will he go or not, I don't know, but at the moment, it's transfer period and in this kind of periods, you try to use the players who are completely focused on being at the club.”
Wenger is a big admirer of Mkhitaryan, was offered him before he moved to Old Trafford and now that could happen with United keen to keep Anthony Martial who Arsenal also rate highly.
Player-plus-cash deals are notoriously difficult to do, it is difficult to agree one valuation let alone two and are rare but United are desperate to get it done even if the valuation of Mkhitaryan in the package has yet to be agreed.
Sanchez’s absence cast a big cloud over Arsenal’s preparations for their defeat at Bournemouth but Wenger blamed defensive mistakes for them throwing away a lead as they suffered a defeat which keeps them eight points off the top four.
Wenger added: “Yes, of course it's frustrating, it's very frustrating. It's very disappointing because it's a very disappointing result for us. especially when you're 1-0 up and we made mistakes in areas where you wonder where they come from.
"I'm not concerned about the spirit. I'm concerned about the fact that where it matters, we are not dangerous enough and not sound enough. At the back, where it matters is in your box. And where it matters is in the final third offensively. We did not look dangerous enough today.”