Alexis Sanchez has reportedly said his goodbyes to Arsenal, ahead of his transfer to Manchester United. While nothing is official at this hour, still, multiple outlets are nonetheless reporting that the Chilean has given his farewell to his current team. Thus, a breakthrough in talks may have occurred and a confirmation announcement could occur this weekend.
The Daily Mail writes that:
“Manager Arsene Wenger was giving serious consideration to including Alexis Sanchez in his match-day squad to face Crystal Palace on Saturday after Danny Welbeck sustained a injury in training on Thursday. But after being informed a breakthrough had been made, Sanchez said goodbye to both players and staff ahead his move north.”
Sanchez was named to the Gunners side that will host Crystal Palace on Saturday, and perhaps this fact is what helped motivate United to speed things up in what has certainly become a very protracted transfer saga.
Mirror Sport: “understands that Sanchez got a call and said goodbye to his team mates just before 11pm and left the team hotel.”
The transfer fee has been widely reported as £35 million (20 to the club, 15 to the agent), with United sending Henrikh Mkhitaryan the other way. The inclusion of Mkhitaryan has complicated the deal, and thus led to the situation being dragged on longer. However, it’s also been reported that Mkhitaryan has also said his goodbyes, and did so in a very emotional manner.
Metro is another outlet that has also picked up the Alexis narrative.
At his news conference on Friday, United manager Jose Mourinho wasn’t able to provide any updates on the Sanchez situation, and he was asked several times.
Meanwhile, Wenger said Thursday at his news conference that a deal is “likely to happen.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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