Henrikh Mkhitaryan is talking terms with Arsenal, as they look to finalise his part of the transfer which will see Alexis Sanchez move to Manchester United.

Sources close to the Arsenal end are confident that they can land Mkhitaryan, although they have played down suggestions from his agent Mino Raiola that the Sanchez deal hinges on the Armenian going the other way.

Speaking about Mkhitaryan’s move, Raiola told The Times: “Manchester United are not going to sign Sanchez unless Mkhi agrees to join Arsenal. Mkhi is going to do what is best for him. He has two-and-a-half years left on his contract, so it’s his decision.”

However, I have been told that both United and Arsenal do not consider the Sanchez deal to be dependent into the Mkhitaryan move.

Both players are odds-on to finalise their moves away from the club – PaddyPower currently rate Sanchez at 4/11 to move and 3/1 to stay put, whilst Mkhitaryan is 4/11 to join Arsenal and 15/8 to stick with United.

United are understandably keen to try and get the Sanchez deal finalised as soon as possible, as they fear a rival offer from elsewhere, after already seemingly fended off neighbours Manchester City – who refused to match the fee or wage package on offer from Old Trafford.