Manchester United set to step up chase for Alex Sandro as Sanchez moves closer

Alex Sandro is a player in demand.

There is a scarcity of top full-backs in modern football, that's probably why Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker cost Manchester City £50m each; supply and demand and all that. It's therefore no surprise that Manchester United have joined the race to sign Juventus left-back Alex Sandro, according to reports in The Mirror. The 26-year-old joined Juventus from Porto in 2015 for €26m and has since doubled his value over the course of two and a half seasons. The left side of defence has been an issue for United since Luke Shaw struggled to settle in and then broke his leg just as he was hitting form. Several players, including Marcos Rojo, Ashley Young and Daley Blind - even Matteo Darmian - have played in the position over the past couple of seasons but Shaw has broken back into the team again this season. The 22-year-old has put together a series of impressive performances of late, earning himself a one year contract extension, but it seems that is a short term fix to a long-term problem. José Mourinho has identified Alex Sandro as the solution to that problem and asked the United board to meet Juventus' £53m asking price for the Brazilian. Chelsea's interest has been well documented for a while, but the hefty fee necessary to take him away from the Italian champions has been an obstacle. Should Sandro end up at Old Trafford, United could end up with an entirely new, very expensive left side this window. Mourinho will have to eat a slice of humble pie if United sign Sandro for that price after his comments criticising City for "signing a full-back for the price of a striker." Sanchez Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has revealed that Alexis Sanchez's future will be decided in the next 48 hours, with United as favourites to land the Chilean. Arsenal went down 2-1 to Bournemouth on Sunday and Sanchez was left out of the squad. The manager said it wasn't a case of him refusing to play.

"Alexis would have played. But it’s a difficult period for him, he has always been committed until now, but he could have moved yesterday or today, or not."

He continued, resigned to the fact that the club's best player is leaving:

"It will be decided in the next 48 hours. "It could happen today, tomorrow or not at all. I didn’t want to travel with him and then he goes somewhere."

On the need to replace Sánchez after his imminent departure, Wenger said:

"If Sanchez goes, we need to replace him. When you look today we missed many players today. If he goes, we have to respond."

Bordeaux's Brazilian winger Malcom has been linked with a move to Arsenal, but Wenger said:

"There’s nothing concrete there. It’s better that I don’t come out on any specific name."