Man Utd star who Wenger requested in Sanchez swap revealed

The identity of a Man Utd forward other than Henrikh Mkhitaryan who Arsenal hoped to secure in the Alexis Sanchez swap deal has been revealed.

With just six months remaining on his deal, Arsenal made the decision to allow talismanic forward Alexis Sanchez to depart The Emirates in the 2018 winter window.

Armenia international Mkhitaryan was eventually chosen as the man to move in the opposite direction in a move that ended in failure for both parties.

Mkhitaryan offered glimpses of the talents he showed while with Borussia Dortmund, but after just 18 months in North London, was shipped out to Roma on loan for the current campaign.

Sanchez’s career path closely echoed that of Mkhitaryan’s, with the Chile superstar struggling for form and fitness while with Man Utd.

He too was loaned out to Serie A at the start of the season, with Inter Milan the destination.

However, it could’ve been all so very different had then Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had his way.

ESPN reveal that the veteran manager initially hoped to secure the signature of Frenchman Anthony Martial.

Wenger had reportedly been keeping a close eye on the youngster’s rise through the ranks in France, though Utd were understandably quick to veto any hopes of his inclusion in the deal.

Meanwhile, a Man Utd target is set to make an announcement about a ‘new club.’

Saul Niguez, who has risen through the ranks at Atletico, signed a mammoth nine-year contract with the capital club in 2017.

The Spanish international has become one of the first names on Diego Simeone’s team sheet and the manager made the 25-year-old one of his four captains for the current season.

However, United have been heavily linked with a swoop for the midfielder in recent weeks and one report claimed that talks between the Red Devils and Atletico over a deal were “practically closed”.

Indeed, it has also been claimed that Saul – who has a €150million release clause in his contract – could be available for half that price.

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Saul announced: “I wanted to communicate something important to you”, adding “New club: I announce it. Three days”.

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