Manchester United are understood to have made a rival bid for Manchester City target Alexis Sanchez.
City have offered Arsenal around £20million for the Chilean who has been set on a reunion with Pep Guardiola but United are prepared to bid closer to Arsenal’s asking price of £35million while midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has also been discussed.
It is understood United’s offer is in the region of £25m, as Jose Mourinho looks to get one over on United’s local rivals.
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez looked set to join Man City – but now United have waded in
Pep Guardiola’s plans to reunite with his former player this month may have been scuppered
Manchester United are prepared to use Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a makeweight in the deal
Sanchez and his representatives are believed to have already agreed personal terms of around £250,000 a week with City but United can better those terms.
United and City tried to sign Sanchez prior to him joining Barcelona from Udinese in 2011 and again when he chose to join Arsenal from Barcelona in 2014.
Jose Mourinho and his United squad fly back from their warm weather training in Dubai on Friday.
Mourinho has been at odds with United’s hierarchy over their spending plans and has been eager for the club to be more competitive against their rivals in the transfer market.
Jose Mourinho and Manchester United have bid in the region of £25m to steal Sanchez away
It is believed the Arsenal man has already agreed £250,000-a-week personal terms at City
He was initially told the club had £80m to spend in January but inflated prices have meant United have been reluctant to pay over the odds now, preferring to keep hold of their money unless a player of notice became available.
Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale remains their prime target for the summer.
Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, has admitted he is still trying to convince Sanchez to stay at the Emirates, despite him failing to sign a new contract.
The club’s star man was on the bench for the 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Wednesday night, but the manager says that was unrelated to his future.
Sanchez was a surprise name on the bench as talk of a move to Manchester City intensifies
But the Chilean emerged from the bench in the second half and probed Chelsea’s defence
‘The team selection had nothing to do with the transfer market,’ Wenger said. ‘Why did I start him on the bench? Why not?
‘I do not have to justify every decision I make, you know. I have played over 1000 games and over 1000 teams.
‘I want him to stay this month. I want him to stay for longer because he’s a very important players for us.
‘When he came on tonight, you could see that he created danger straight away. We have to accept as well when you play so many games and Sanchez plays every game that sometimes a breather in the middle of the season helps a little bit.’
Arsene Wenger admits he is still trying to convince Sanchez to stay beyond this season
Mourinho and Guardiola are going head-to-head off the pitch as their rivalry intensifies