Manchester United may be able to buy Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal without using Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a make-weight.

Mkhitaryan has been reluctant to sign off on a move to Arsenal.

Mino Raiola, Mkhitaryan’s agent, has claimed his player holds the key to Sánchez’s transfer to United in a transaction that would be worth around £60 million once the Chilean’s fee and that of his agent are factored in.

Jose Mourinho is optimistic United could still afford Sanchez without Mkhitaryan.

Even though Sanchez is out of contract in the summer and at 29 would have little or no sell-on value, Mourinho believes the forward would allow a step change in the side’s development