Arsene Wenger: Alexis Sanchez likely to join Manchester United

The Chilean international is out of contract at the end of the season and was also a target for Manchester City, but United appear to have stolen a march over their local rivals.

"I worked on transfers for 30 years so it is likely to happen, but at any moment it can break down," Wenger told a news conference, adding that United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan could move in the other direction.

"I like the player. We played many times against him when he was at [Borussia] Dortmund ... The wages would not be a problem," Wenger added.

Armenian international Mkhitaryan has fallen down the pecking order under boss Jose Mourinho, and was left out of United's squad for their 3-0 win over Stoke City on Monday.