Wenger: Sanchez 'likely' to join Manchester United
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed star man Alexis Sanchez is "likely" to join Manchester United in a deal that could also potentially see Henrikh Mkhitaryan head to the Emirates Stadium.
The French tactician addressed the various reports surrounding the wantaway Chile international ahead of a Saturday tilt with Crystal Palace, while weighing in on a few other players linked with the Gunners in January.
On Sanchez - whose contract expires at the end of the season - Wenger didn't speak definitively, but admitted the wheels are in motion, telling reporters, as quoted by BBC Sport: "I worked on transfers for 30 years so it is likely to happen, but at any moment it can break down."
He added that Sanchez is set to feature against Crystal Palace if he's not yet transferred, explaining: "As long as it's not over the line you have to accept it may not happen. These kind of things are not guaranteed."
Wenger also revealed Arsenal is indeed exploring the possibility of adding Armenia international Mkhitaryan - a player the French tactician said he likes - as part of a deal that would see Sanchez join Jose Mourinho's side.
"We played many times against (Mkhitaryan) when he was at Dortmund," Wenger mused. "He appreciated the quality of our games. The wages would not be a problem."
Wenger has had a busy January, as the Gunners have also been linked with Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bordeaux youngster Malcom. Wenger said Aubameyang would fit in well at Arsenal, but when asked for more information regarding a potential transfer, the manager was coy, saying, as quoted by Sky Sports, "No, I have nothing to add to that.
"These kind of things are better when they are secret and you don't come out on it. You announce it when it's over the line apart from the deal we've just spoken about Sanchez and Mkhitaryan (that) could happen, yes. Nothing else is close."
Asked if Aubameyang - who's had issues with discipline of late - would be a good fit at Arsenal, Wenger offered, as quoted by BBC Sport, "Yes, because character can be a very positive note and negative - but overall you look at the achievement of a player over his career.
"When it's been positive the character has been used in a positive way."
Finally, regarding 20-year-old Brazilian forward Malcom, Wenger was less ambiguous: "I don't think we are close to (signing Malcom). I don't think (that it will happen in January), no."