Manchester United put private jet on stand-by to complete Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap deal
Club charter luxury plane ready to ferry Mkihtaryan down to London and bring Arsenal star Sanchez back to the North-West as they prepare to wrap up big January transfer
MANCHESTER UNITED have put a private jet on stand-by ready to complete the swap deal for Alexis Sanchez.
United are keen for the Arsenal star to arrive in the north-west as soon as they get the clearance to push through the signing of the Chilean star.
It has been claimed in the they have charted a luxury plane in readiness to send Henrikh Mkhitaryan down to London with Sanchez returning to the North West.
Arsenal and United had both hoped to get the swap deal completed before the weekend, but it was held up while Mkhitaryan negotiated personal terms.
That meant Arsene Wenger decided to call Sanchez into his squad reporting at their team hotel yesterday ahead of today's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.
But the transfer moved a step closer to being finalised yesterday evening when Sanchez was given permission to leave the group.
The forward, who has been agitating for a move all season, said his goodbyes to his Arsenal team-mates and left the team hotel.
But he has remained in London while Mkhitaryan's agent Mino Raiola continues with talks to reach an agreement over the details of the Armenian's contract at the Emirates.
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Those discussions are understood to be continuing over the course of the weekend and once they are settled then the all clear will be given.
That would then see both players travel in the opposite directions to undergo medicals with their respective new clubs.
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Arsenal are in less of a rush to get the deal signed because once their game with Palace is over, all eyes will turn to their Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea.
Mkhitaryan is not able to play in that match and boss Wenger will be working with his squad available ahead of the second leg at the Emirates on Wednesday.
And with the Gunners out of the FA Cup, their next Premier League match is not until January 30, giving Mkhitaryan plenty of time to settle in with his new team-mates.
United boss Jose Mourinho would prefer to get the deal done with plenty of time for Sanchez to be involved in his plans for the FA Cup fourth round trip to Yeovil next Friday.