Manchester City are ready to back out from the race to sign Alexis Sanchez and let arch rivals Manchester United secure the services of the Chilean.
Man City have been in pole position to rope in the Arsenal contract rebel after missing out on him on deadline day last summer.
Manchester United have now launched a late bid to steal Alexis Sanchez from under the noses of City.
And sources reveal that the Man City hierarchy are not ready to match the financial package that United have offered with the Gunners happy to let the Chilean join Jose Mourinho’s men.
In a last-ditch attempt, Jose Mourinho’s Man Utd have held talks with Gunners officials over whether they would accept a £25million bid for the former Barcelona star.
United’s offer on plate is more than the £20m Man City are reportedly ready to splurge to sign Sanchez, who can move on a free transfer at the end of the season when his current contract with Arsenal runs out.
Man Utd are also reportedly ready to offer out-of-favour midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Arsenal as part of a swap plus cash deal to secure the services of Sanchez.
The Red Devils are hoping that their superior offer might be enough to tempt Arsenal to sell the Chilean this month.
Recent reports have also claimed that United are ready to offer Sanchez a higher wage packet than the £250,000a-week that he had agreed with Man City, when he was on the verge of joining them on deadline day during the summer transfer window.
Guardiola remains relaxed about the situation as he is well aware that Sanchez has made it clear that he wants to play under him and not Mourinho.
But the City bosses are not ready to spend more than £20m for Sanchez, who will become a free agent this summer.
Arsenal reportedly want an offer in the region of £35m for the Chilean and the package United are ready to offer are very close to their demand.
The Man City board think that the asking price of Arsenal and Sanchez’s agent Fernando Felicevich, who wants a fee of £5m for the deal, are too high and that the Chilean will have to lower his demands if an agreement is reached.
Only time will tell whether Sanchez opts to accept a more lucrative offer at Man Utd or decides to reunite with his former boss Guardiola by lowering his demands.
