Henrikh Mkhitaryan to join Arsenal and Alexis Sanchez will head to Manchester United, claim Armenian reports
HENRIKH MKHITARYAN is on his way to Arsenal with Alexis Sanchez poised to join Manchester United, according to reports.
A deal has been agreed between attacking midfielder Mkhitaryan and the North London club, paving the way for the most sensational transfer of the January window.
According to Paris-based Armenian reporter Thibaud Vezirian, his out-of-favour compatriot has hashed out and agreed terms with the Gunners so that the deal can happen.
He tweeted: "The transfer of @HenrikhMkh to @Arsenal, it's done! Alexis Sanchez go to @ManUtd."
Vezirian later added: "Of course, Manchester [United] will pay additional compensation to Arsenal."
Although neither club has confirmed the transfer, or any agreement, the nature of the player swap would make the deal less likely to go through quickly.
Last night it was also confirmed that Chelsea have entered the fray, with the Stamford Bridge club ready to make a move for the Chilean.
But Mkhitaryan, 28, appears to have been a key makeweight in the deal, just 18 months after Mourinho spent £30million to bring him to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund.
The Portuguese has failed miserably to get the most out of a player who thrived at the Westfalenstadion and appeared ready for the biggest stage in English football.
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From the moment he faced Manchester City in Pep Guardiola's side's 2-1 Old Trafford win last season, Mkhitaryan looked to struggle with the rigours of English football.
He was frozen out of the Red Devils first team for months before Mourinho placed his trust in him again and the Armenian appeared to turn a corner when he scored in the Europa League final against Ajax.
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But his form this season has seriously dipped again and he has become downright erratic.
Mourinho appeared to lose his patience with Mkhitaryan in United's tame 0-0 draw with Southampton, where the ball appeared like a hot potato and he kept sending in wayward crosses.
It is a trend Arsene Wenger will look to arrest if he does land an unexpected and talented player in Mkhitaryan, who netted 11 times in the 2015/16 season for Dortmund.
Mkhitaryan's agent Mino Raiola confirmed what is at stake in the deal.
He told The Times: "Manchester United is not going to sign Sanchez unless Mkhi agrees to join Arsenal.
"Sanchez is part of the Mkhi deal, not the other way around."