Manchester United and Arsenal are close to an agreement over the transfer of Alexis Sanchez.

Manchester City appear to have fallen behind in the race to sign the Chilean and Jose Mourinho’s comments ahead of his side’s encounter with Stoke City fueled speculation of the deal approaching completion.

United have been willing to meet Arsenal’s £35m asking price while also offering Henrikh Mkhitaryan as part of the deal and it didn’t seem coincidental that the Armenian was left out of the matchday squad on Monday night.

Asked about the attacking midfielder’s absence, Mourinho said:”I would lie if I said it was a pure tactical decision. It was just a choice of the players that we know, in this moment, they have 100 per cent their heads in Manchester United.

“No doubts about the future. I don’t think it’s easy for a player to play when there are doubts about his future. It’s added pressure that a player doesn’t need, so I think it’s the best for him and for us, while the doubt is in the air, to protect him.”