Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger stated that a swap deal between Manchester United and Arsenal that would exchange Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan is “likely to happen” within the next 48 hours. He also confirmed that the deal isn’t done yet, and there remains still the possibility that Alexis will remain with the Gunners this weekend.
While the Sanchez deal (reportedly to be potentially record breaking, salary wise) isn’t finalized yet, multiple outlets are reporting that United manager Jose Mourinho has a desire to get the Chilean registered in time so that Alexis could make his United debut on Saturday against Burnley. There has even been a discussion about whether or not they could have Alexis on board and officially confirmed in time to include him on the Champions League roster.
“It can happen, it can as well not happen,” Wenger responded when asked how the transfer talks regarding the Chilean are going with Old Trafford at this moment.
“If it doesn’t happen, he will play on Saturday. I’ve worked on transfers for 30 years, so it is likely to happen, but at any moment, at any minute, things can break down. That’s how the transfer market is. As long as it’s not over the line, you have to accept that it can as well not happen. These kind of things are never guaranteed.”
Arsene Wenger is 100% spot on with last two sentences there. You need look no further than the potential deal for the very same player, just this past transfer window. Arsenal were not able to close a deal for a potential Sanchez replacement, Thomas Lemar, by deadline day, and thus, couldn’t get the Sanchez transaction over the line in time.
Nothing is truly ever done, until all the Is are dotted and all the Ts crossed.
Going on what Arsene Wenger had to say here, the next couple of days should be very interesting, and this appears to be a very fluid situation.
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 corporation blogging community Chicago Now.
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