Manchester United manager refuses to rule out January move for Sanchez

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was tight lipped about a January move for Alexis Sanchez but hailed the Arsenal star a ‘phenomenal player’.

The Red Devils have sensationally entered the race to sign Sanchez from Arsenal this month and are ready to lock horns with rivals Manchester City for his signature.

There are mixed reports regarding whether United have actually submitted a bid for Sanchez but Mourinho refused to rule out a move for the 29-year-old during his pre-match news conference on Friday.

“I don’t know ethical or correct, the word we can find to be speaking about players of other clubs, if somebody speaks of one of my players to say we are interested, I wouldn’t be very very happy,” EPSN quote Mourinho as saying.

“Sanchez is an Arsenal player, I don’t know but probably this weekend he is going to defend Arsenal colours so I don’t think it’s correct to say things about Alexis Sanchez.

“At general level what I can say is myself and Manchester United board, owners, we don’t believe a lot in the January market we don’t believe in sign a player just to sign a player, just to do something we don’t believe in that, what we believe really is there are some players in football world if you have the chance to sign them in January, March or July, you have to try and that’s it. But in relation to Alexis Sanchez I don’t say a word.

“The only word I can say is he is a phenomenal player, apart from that Arsenal player and I feel I shouldn’t say much more than this.”

Sanchez, who has entered the final six months of his current Arsenal deal, was widely expected to join City this month but the destination of his next move has been thrown into serious doubt following United’s sudden interest.

Pep Guardiola’s side are refusing to pay more than £20m for Sanchez this month and are even willing to walk away from a deal even if it means the the Arsenal No.7 joins United.

City are convinced Sanchez only has eyes for the Etihad and are willing to gamble on that by waiting until the summer when they can sign him for nothing.

In the last three Premier League campaigns, only Harry Kane (81), Romelu Lukaku (69) and Sergio Aguero (66) have scored or assisted more goals than Sanchez (61).