Chelsea Launch Late Bid To Hijack Man Utd’s £35m Deal To Sign Alexis Sanchez

The January transfer window is now open so clubs are working hard trying to strengthen their squads for the second half of the season and put deals in place for the summer. Today, Chelsea make a late play to sign Sanchez….

Chelsea are making a late bid to try and hijack Manchester United’s proposed £35m deal for Alexis Sanchez after Manchester City withdrew their interest in signing the Arsenal forward, according to the Telegraph.

City had been the early favourites to sign Sanchez after almost landing the Arsenal star during the closing stages of the summer transfer window but they’ve decided to walk away after United entered the race.

The Telegraph claim the Red Devils have trumped City’s £20m bid by offering to meet Arsenal’s £35m valuation as well as paying Sanchez a £20m signing-on fee and his agent, Fernando Felicevich, around £10m.

That means the deal is worth £65m while United have also offered Sanchez a bumper contract worth around £350,000-a-week which was significantly more than the £275,000-a-week City had put on the table.

City have decided not to up their offer as they feel the figures are excessive for a 29-year-old who is out of contract in 5 months so United are now firmly in pole position to sign the Chilean international.

Jose Mourinho said he was relaxed about the situation after last night’s win over Stoke, however, there could be a late twist as the Telegraph claim Chelsea have made a late move to hijack United’s deal.

The Blues have the financial firepower to match what United are willing to pay in terms of transfer fees but it remains to be seen whether Antonio Conte is ready to potentially disrupt the dressing room by making Sanchez their highest earner.

Eden Hazard is currently Chelsea’s highest-paid player on around £200,000-a-week so they’d have to smash that wage structure in order to meet the kind of money United have put on the table.

United will be confident of seeing-off the late interest from Chelsea and the report says the fact they are also willing to include Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a makeweight should swing things in their favour.

Arsene Wenger tried to sign the Armenian international before he went to Old Trafford so he’ll be tempted to take the playmaker in exchange for Sanchez if a deal can be agreed between all parties.

Mourinho confirmed that he had left Mkhitaryan out of last night’s squad because he could be heading to north London so it looks like there is a distinct possibility a player swap deal is on the cards.

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We’ll have to wait and see how things develop over the coming hours but unless Chelsea table a huge offer or City have a change of heart, I think it’s safe to say Sanchez is heading for United with Mkhitaryan possibility moving in the opposite direction.