Alexis Sánchez is nearing his move to Manchester United, with Arsenal exploring the availability of Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and also interested in signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan as part of the Sánchez deal.

Arsène Wenger left Sánchez out of the Arsenal squad that was beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth at Dean Court because his star striker was already “half in and half out” amid negotiations on a deal that was close to completion over the weekend.

Arsenal, though, will only allow Sánchez to formally leave once they have sourced a replacement. Part of the negotiations with United relate to Mkhitaryan, but they are also separately interested in Aubameyang and Bordeaux winger Malcom. With Theo Walcott likely to leave this month to Everton, Wenger is preparing to make two attacking signings.

Both Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan are well known to Arsenal’s new recruitment chief Sven Mislintat, who worked previously at Dortmund. Arsenal wanted to sign Mkhitaryan before he joined United in 2016 for £30m while Aubameyang was dropped on Sunday by Dortmund for missing a team meeting and there is a gathering sense that he could become available.

He would cost around £60m but, having scored 21 goals this season in 23 games, is one of the most prolific and sought-after strikers in Europe.

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Wenger stressed that Sánchez had not refused to play against Bournemouth but suggested that he does not now expect him to feature for Arsenal again. The signing of Sánchez would represent something of a coup for United given Manchester City’s strong interest but the Premier League leaders are not willing to commit financially beyond what they think is reasonable for a player who turns 30 next year.

Arsenal had turned down £60m from City after failing to recruit Monaco’s Thomas Lemar on deadline day of the August transfer window and still wanted around £30m this month in any straight cash deal. City were reluctant to go above £20m for a player who would have been available on a free transfer in June. Sánchez could simply have stayed at Arsenal and joined City in the summer but the indications are that he would be ready to accept an offer from United that would make him the highest paid player in the Premier League.

Sanchez could become the highest paid Premier League player by moving to United credit: Reuters

It is also understood that Sánchez’s agent could receive a fee in excess of £10 million. A major consideration for City is whether their own dressing-room might be disrupted by bringing in a player on more money than those in a team currently leading the Premier League, especially ahead of contract negotiations for star performers such as Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.

Having played Sánchez in the 4-0 defeat by Liverpool at the end of August when he was also close to leaving, Wenger decided that it was better not to have him with a squad that travelled down to Bournemouth on Saturday. “Alexis did not refuse to play – he would have played but it's a difficult period for him,” said Wenger. “He's always been committed until now but he could have moved yesterday, today or not. It will be decided in the next 48 hours. He was on stand-by, a little bit. That's why I decided not to do it.”

Arsenal could replace Sanchez with the £40m-rated Malcom credit: AFP

Asked whether Sánchez would definitely be replaced, Wenger said: “Yes. If Sánchez goes we need to replace him. If players like Sánchez go, we have of course to respond. Will he go or not, I don't know but it's the transfer window and, in this kind of period, you try to use the players who are completely focused on being at the club.

“I don't master the rhythm of that. It could happen today, tomorrow or not at all. I didn't want to travel with him and suddenly he does go somewhere.”

City’s stance on Sanchez has also been partly influenced by the latest injury assessment on striker Gabriel Jesus who they expect to return to action in the next two to three weeks. It was feared the Brazilian could be out longer-term after damaging medial knee ligaments in the New Year’s Eve fixture away to Crystal Palace but, after two visits to Barcelona to see Dr Ramon Cugat, the prognosis is far more optimistic.