MANCHESTER, Sporting Alert — Manchester United are set to compete with arch rivals Manchester City for the signature of Alexis Sanchez, according to The Sun.
Sanchez, who is out of contract next summer, was the subject of a transfer move to Manchester City in the summer but Arsenal rejected a last-gasp £60 million offer from the Citizens on deadline day and the deal collapsed.
It is understood Manchester City were planning to return for the Chile international next summer when he can sign for free.
However, The Sun is now reporting that Jose Mourinho is planning to offer the 28-year-old an early contract in an effort to convince him to join Manchester United.
Sanchez, who is looking to leave the Emirates when the season is over, is free to negotiate with other clubs in January and Mourinho is apparently ready to offer the forward a £25m signing-on bonus to convince to make the switch to Old Trafford.
Arsenal were set to allow Sanchez to make the move to the Etihad but when the Gunners’ move for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar failed to materialize Arsene Wenger was forced to hold on to his star man.
And while Sanchez was keen on joining Manchester City to link back up with former manager Pep Guardiola, it is believed his advisers were also aware of Manchester United‘s interest.
Manchester City pursuit of Sanchez was centered around the uncertainty surrounding the future of Sergio Aguero.
However, the Argentine forward has been in immaculate form recently and his partnership with Gabriel Jesus could force Guardiola to cool his move for the Arsenal man.
Sanchez is a two-time FA Cup winner with Arsenal (2015, 2017), but the former Barcelona star who won everything with the La Liga club, wants to win the Premier League.
But at the moment, he doesn’t think the Gunners who are playing in the Europa League, are capable of challenging for any of the major trophies this season.
