Old Trafford officials have been working to complete a deal with Arsenal for the £35m-rated Chile forward, with midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan going the other way in part exchange.
United manager Jose Mourinho has made it clear that he wanted Sanchez in his plans for the trip to Turf Moor, but United would have to have him registered by noon in order for him to be able to play.
Sanchez has already agreed a contract worth a staggering £505,000-a-week over four-and-a-half years.
United’s kit manufacturers Adidas were confident enough that they were already selling ‘Alexis 7’ shirts at their flagship store on London’s Oxford Street yesterday.
However, the finer details of Mkhitaryan’s move to Arsenal were still being ironed out, as his agent Mino Raiola arrived in London to discuss his client’s personal terms.
Raiola made clear earlier this week that the Armenia captain, who trained with United at Carrington yesterday, had to agree to a move before the Sanchez deal could be completed.
Mourinho had considered the possibility of asking United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to go ahead with a deal for Sanchez even if Mkhitaryan could not agree a move
But he is reluctant to antagonise Raiola, who also represents United players Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
For that reason, Raiola has been given every chance to secure Mkhitaryan’s move to Arsenal, as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger seemed to be cranking up preparations for life after Sanchez when he made him train away from the rest of the Arsenal squad.
The Frenchman is convinced his move to Manchester United is reaching a critical stage, having said first thing yesterday morning: “It’s the deadline now: in the next 24 to 48 hours this will happen… or not.”
But having insisted he had no qualms about including him in the team for tomorrow’s game against Crystal Palace after leaving him out against Bournemouth on Sunday, Wenger made Sanchez train with the kids while what the Gunners’ boss described as a “lawyer’s battle” played out between Arsenal and United.
“I would say our fans know Alexis will not extend his contract and they have accepted that Idea,” said Wenger. “The fact it will not be one-way traffic makes the whole thing a bit smoother, maybe, a bit less disappointing. We lose a player yes but we could gain another player.”
Wenger all but ruled out the possibility of Mesut Ozil following Sanchez through the exit and played down the chances of signing Malcom from Bordeaux.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a different story, however, and Wenger was adamant there was a place for him at Arsenal.
“Yes [he’d fit in], because character can be a very positive note and it can be a very negative note,” Wenger said.
“I believe overall you look at the achievements of a player during his career and usually, when a career has been very positive, the character has been used in a positive way.”
His comments did not play well with current club Dortmund, however, who will not be including him for their game against Hertha Berlin amid fears his head had been turned.
“We regard it as disrespectful that Arsene Wenger expresses himself about players of other clubs,” the club said.
Sporting director Michael Zorc added: “There is no contact on our part with Arsenal. Arsene Wenger certainly has enough currently to deal with the performance of his own players.”