Manchester United transfer news: Jose Mourinho reveals only player that can leave this month is Axel Tuanzebe
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ONLY one Manchester United player will be allowed to leave Old Trafford this month, and that's Axel Tuanzebe.
The likes of Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have been linked with moves away from Old Trafford, but Jose Mourinho has declared he will only allow the defender to depart.
United are poised to bring in Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez for a fee in the region of £35million, casting doubt over the French and Armenian internationals.
Mkhitaryan is a reported Gunners target, and was left out of the squad that beat Stoke 3-0 on Monday night.
The 29-year-old is understood to be reluctant to move to the Emirates, while the Red Devils have categorically ruled out any move involving Martial to Arsenal.
And Mourinho has hinted that the ex-Borussia Dortmund ace could potentially be off, but has only opened the door for the England youth international to leave.
Tuanzebe, 20, has featured just three times in all competitions this season - starting once - as Championship side Aston Villa look to sign him on loan until the end of the campaign.
Speaking on Monday night of potential outgoings, Mourinho said: "I have a squad of 22 players and I want to keep squad of 22 players.
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"Maybe just because I want to make the kid a good player and I'm not giving him the chances I'm giving to Scott McTominay, for example.
"Axel Tuanzebe plays in a position where I have so many players, today on the bench I had Marcos Rojo and Victor Lindelof, and Eric Bailly is still in recovery, so I'm not giving the chances to Axel.
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"So probably Axel is the only one that I open the door for him to go and play because I believe he is a really good talent and he needs to play.
"Apart from that, the numbers we have, we are playing Champions League, FA Cup, Premier League, I have to keep the number of players we have.
"Is it possible he [Mkhitaryan]s going to be involved in the deal? It's possible. It's also possible he stays.
"I didn't select him (Mkhitaryan) today because I wanted players fully focused and I understand that with so much talk and so much speculation it is not easy for Mkhitaryan to play at home with this feeling", can happen, maybe doesn't happen.
"So I prefer to protect him and to protect the situation, and at the end of the transfer market if he stays here he is a very good player that season started this season very, very well and come a little bit down.
"But last season did amazing things for us, helped us to win the Europa League, being one of the most important players, so let's see what is going to happen.
"Is a pity the market closes on the 31st, maybe the market should close tomorrow and finish with everything."
As well as the possible signing of Sanchez, United are also monitoring the situation of Lazio centre-back Stefan De Vrij, whose reported new contract will have just a mere £22m release clause.