Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez despite intense competition from Manchester City.

Sanchez, 29, has seemed destined to join City in either the January transfer window or the summer as he runs down his Arsenal contract, which expires at the end of June.

However, M.E.N. Sport understands United have received new hope of signing Sanchez, having contacted the Chile international's representatives earlier this season.

It is understood United initially touched base with Sanchez's camp after a deadline day move to City fell through. United are believed to have been quoted an eye-watering £25million fee for Sanchez, which is the figure City are said to be trying to negotiate with Arsenal to sign him this month.

City are believed to be reluctant to meet Sanchez's financial demands and a City insider said Sanchez 'must decide whether to put trophies before money'. A second City source insists the club is 'not desperate' to sign Sanchez this month and supporters should expect a 'big signing' in the summer if a move for the Arsenal talisman fails to materialise.

The champions elect's failure to finalise terms with Sanchez's agent has opened up an opportunity for United to negotiate a package. It is thought Sanchez's representatives are looking for a £300,000-a-week wage packet for their client as they whip up an auction between the Premier League's top two.

United have been encouraged to blindside City having used a similar tactic to recruit Romelu Lukaku from under Chelsea's noses. United worked on deals for Lukaku and Alvaro Morata simultaneously in the summer after it emerged the Belgian would prefer to join United over Chelsea. Lukaku was United's principal No.9 target but the club expected him to return to the champions.

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Real Madrid's dithering over whether to sell Morata further convinced United manager Jose Mourinho to revive his interest in Lukaku. Mourinho was concerned Madrid were dragging out negotiations with United in order to eventually offer Morata a new contract and portray a possible renewal as a coup.

Mourinho has also shown interest in Sanchez's Arsenal teammate Mesut Ozil, who has earmarked United as the only Premier League club he is prepared to join.

The M.E.N. previously reported Ozil, who played under Mourinho for three years at Madrid, was informed his best chance of securing a move to United was by running down his contract and moving on a free.

Sanchez's international teammate and City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo admitted the Arsenal number seven was 'bitter' about his protracted move to City falling through in September.

"We were talking in Chile. He went from happiness to bitterness in a few hours, although it's all in the past now," Bravo said at the time. "The transfer didn't happen because a player didn't go to Arsenal and everything collapsed.

"We would have loved to have him here, but the market gives you these time limits and the rush is not good. This time it was not possible, but hopefully we have him here in the future."

United's last signing from Arsenal was Robin van Persie in a £24m deal five-and-a-half years ago. Van Persie had entered the final 12 months of his contract and was begrudgingly allowed to leave for Old Trafford, where he scored 30 goals in his debut season as United won their 20th title.

Sir Alex Ferguson's first United arrival, Viv Anderson, also joined from Arsenal in 1987 and the club previously bought Frank Stapleton, George Graham, Ian Ure and David Herd from The Gunners.

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