Alexis Sanchez: Arsenal forward likely to join Man Utd - Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says it is "likely" forward Alexis Sanchez will join Premier League rivals Manchester United.

Sanchez, 29, is out of contract in June and is thought to have agreed personal terms with the Old Trafford club.

"I worked on transfers for 30 years so it is likely to happen, but at any moment it can break down," said Wenger.

Wenger also said it was a "possibility" United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be a part of the deal.

"I like the player," added Wenger. "We played many times against him when he was at Dortmund. He appreciated the quality of our games. The wages would not be a problem."

Armenia international Mkhitaryan, 28, has not agreed terms on a move but was left out of the league win over Stoke on Monday, with manager Jose Mourinho confirming the decision was not tactical.

Aubameyang? Malcom? Or will Sanchez remain?

Looking at Premier League data since Sanchez arrived in England in 2014 and Mkhitaryan joined United in 2016, Sanchez scores with more regularity while Mkhitaryan delivers assists at a quicker rate

At a news conference on Thursday, Wenger said Chile international Sanchez will feature against Crystal Palace on Saturday if he does not complete a transfer.

"As long as it's not over the line you have to accept it may not happen," added the Frenchman. "These kind of things are not guaranteed.

"I have no problem with Sanchez's attitude. He was in training yesterday fully committed. He is 29 years old and the next contract will of course be very important to him."

Arsenal sold forward Theo Walcott to Everton on Wednesday and Wenger has been linked with moves for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bordeaux forward Malcom to bolster his squad.

He said the club were not close to completing a deal for 20-year-old Brazilian Malcom but added that Aubameyang, 28, would "fit in".

Asked about any deal for the Gabon international, Wenger said: "This kind of thing is better when it's secret and when you don't comment before announcing it when it's over the line.

"Would he fit in? Yes, because character can be a very positive note and negative - but overall you look at the achievement of a player over his career.

"When it's been positive the character has been used in a positive way."

Dortmund, however, reacted angrily to those comments, with a club statement describing Wenger as "disrespectful".

"There is no contact on our part to Arsenal," sporting director Michael Zorc is quoted as saying. "Arsene Wenger certainly has enough currently to do so to deal with the performance of its own players."