LONDON: Alexis Sanchez arrived at Manchester United’s training ground ahead of his expected move from Arsenal on Sunday, reports said, as his swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan edged closer.
Earlier, the Chile international posted a video on Instagram, apparently showing him walking across an airstrip toward a private jet following reports that he was due in northwest England for a medical.
Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper said Sanchez had been pictured arriving at United’s Carrington training complex to complete his move from the London club, widely expected to be finalized on Monday.
Sky reported that Mkhitaryan would have a medical in London on Sunday.
Chile’s Sanchez, 29, is set to become United’s best-paid player, with some reports putting his salary at £400,000 ($554,000) per week, prompting a warning from former England boss Steve McClaren that his high wages could create dressing-room disharmony.
“Wage parity is very important to players. Yes, they find out — at all levels — and if someone is paid a lot higher than others that can cause a problem,” he said.
Sky Sports News showed Armenian international Mkhitaryan, also 29, at a central London hotel on Saturday evening alongside agent Mino Raiola.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and United manager Jose Mourinho both said they expected the two-way deal between the Premier League rivals to go through.
Wenger said Sanchez was absent from the Arsenal squad on Saturday because he was close to completing a deal that has been in the making since United out-bid Manchester City for the former Barcelona star.
“I expect soon or never,” Mourinho said after his side’s 1-0 win against Burnley. “I think it is so close, so close, so close that if it doesn’t happen it’s not going to happen.”
Sky said it understood it could be a straight swap deal but details were yet to be finalized.
McClaren, who was Alex Ferguson’s assistant when Manchester United won the treble in 1999, said the Sanchez signing would be a major coup for the club but warned his earnings could unsettle other players.
“If he (Sanchez) is on the wages that is being bandied about then other players will know that when their contracts come up or they are in demand from other clubs,” he said.
But McClaren believes United have struck a major blow by landing Sanchez, who has scored 80 goals in 166 appearances at Arsenal.
“Any manager worth his salt would love to have Sanchez in their team,” McClaren told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Sanchez coming in for the second half of the season at Manchester United is a huge boost to them.
“He has got that experience and toughness, he wins games and he is a leader. It will lift the level of the whole club.”
Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap nears completion
Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap nears completion
Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia nears finish as Stage 12 heads to Yanbu
YANBU: Stage 12 of the Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia concluded on Friday. It followed a demanding route from Al-Henakiyah to Yanbu, during which competitors covered a total of 720 kilometers, including 311 kilometers in the timed special stage, as the rally edged closer to its final showdown.
In the Ultimate category, Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah of Dacia Sandriders won the stage in a time of three hours, 21 minutes and 52 seconds — a minute and four seconds ahead of American driver Mitch Guthrie of Ford Racing, who was just 21 seconds ahead of Australia’s Toby Price of Toyota Gazoo Racing in third.
Emirati driver Sheikh Khalid Al-Qasimi of Team SVR completed the stage 31 minutes and 38 seconds off the lead, while his teammate Khalid Al-Jafla crossed the line one hour, 11 minutes and 23 seconds behind the stage winner.
In the Bikes category, American rider Ricky Brabec of Energy Honda took first place after completing the stage in 3:19:01. Argentina’s Luciano Benavides of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing came second with a time of 3:22:44, while Brabec’s Spanish teammate Tosha Schareina came third, finishing 12 minutes and 58 seconds off the lead.
In the Challenger category, Argentina’s Kevin Benavides of Odyssey Academy claimed his stage victory with a time of 3:44:52. His Saudi teammate Dania Akeel was second with a time of 3:47:07, and his fellow Argentinian David Zille of BBR Motorsport placed third, three minutes and 37 seconds behind Benavides.
The SSV category also delivered a close finish, with Argentina’s Jeremias Gonzalez Ferioli of Can-Am Factory Team LATAM first across the finish line in 3:51:36 — six minutes and 55 seconds ahead of Portugal’s Joao Monteiro of Can-Am Factory Team and seven minutes, 39 seconds ahead of Monteiro’s American teammate Hunter Miller in third.
The Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia concludes on Saturday, Jan. 17, with its thirteenth stage, which spans a total of 138 kilometers, including a timed special stage of 105 kilometers.
