Manchester United transfer news: Sanchez deal drags and unlikely Mourinho praise

January looks set to be a spectacular one for Manchester United but there is still work to do for Jose Mourinho’s side to get a deal for Alexis Sanchez over the line.

The Arsenal forward is not the only Manchester United related news this week, as we round-up the top stories associated to Mourinho’s men.

‘Sanchez denied United debut this weekend’

Jose Mourinho confirmed in his Friday news conference that a deal for Alexis Sanchez still has some way to go, although suggested everything was done at their end of the table.

The Red Devils are currently waiting on Arsenal and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to agree terms before the deal can go through, but that has denied Alexis Sanchez the chance to make his United debut away to Burnley on Saturday.

Mourinho had hoped the transfer would be announced before Friday’s 12pm registration deadline in order to free up the 29-year-old on Saturday, but remains calm about the situation.

“There’s nothing new, I think clearly everybody knows that we are there and especially when the Arsenal manager speaks so clearly like he did,” The Daily Telegraph quote Mourinho as saying on Friday.

“There is no point in trying to hide or deny but [the transfer is] not done at all, so in this moment Mkhitaryan is our player, Sanchez an Arsenal player and with a match tomorrow I want to switch off and focus on the most important thing, which is the match.”

“I don’t know,” Mourinho replied when quizzed whether Mkhitaryan was key to the deal. “Sometimes people think transfers involves a lot the managers in the negotiations, I think it depends on the profile of the club, the way we establish our jobs and in my case when it goes to the table of negotiations I like to be out, I am out and I will just calmly waiting for news, no more than that.”

Sanchez has only scored seven goals in 19 Premier League appearances this season, which is half as many as he managed at this stage of last season.

‘No better left-back than Shaw’

The three-and-a-half years that have followed Luke Shaw’s £27m arrival at Manchester United have been nothing short of a disaster, from season-ending injuries to fallings out with managers. However, on Friday, Shaw’s United career reached it’s best after Jose Mourinho sung high praises of the 22-year-old.

It appeared a foregone conclusion that Shaw would be sold this month or at the end of the season after failing to make any impression under Mourinho during his first 18 months as United boss.

However, Shaw has started seven of United’s last nine matches in all competitions, including the last five, and Mourinho has hailed his current-form, even suggesting he is the best left-back in the league.

“I can say that in this moment I don’t see many left-backs better than this Luke Shaw,” The Daily Mail quote Mourinho as saying on Friday. “He had played very well. He was already improving and playing well when I start playing him after that long spell without minutes.

“I remember the first time he was coming step by step, and now with a good run of matches and continuity, he is solid. Physically much better, mentally much stronger, tactically understanding the game much better and what we need in different phases and circumstances. I’m really happy.”

Shaw’s current deal is due to expire at the end of the season but United have already triggered their right to an extra 12 months and the England international may now start to really believe he has a long-term future at Old Trafford.

The former Southampton defender is still waiting to score the first Premier League goal of his career, having raked up 97 appearances thus far.

‘United make breakthrough in Mourinho contract talks’

After publicly flirting with Paris Saint-Germain in October, there were fears that Jose Mourinho would pack his bags and leave Manchester United at the end of the season.

The Portuguese is now more than halfway through his current United deal and is reportedly demanding to be made the best paid coach in the world after leading the Red Devils to two major trophies, as well as the Community Shield, during his first season in charge.

PSG are reportedly weighing up Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and Mourinho as their new manager for the upcoming season but, according to The National, United have made a serious breakthrough in contract talks with the 54-year-old.

An announcement on Mourinho’s new deal is reportedly imminent, which comes as great news for United as they finally look for stability after some wretched post-Ferguson years.

After 23 Premier League games, United have eight more points this season (50) than they did at this stage last year (42), while they have also scored 15 more goals and conceded five fewer.

‘De Gea plays down contract talk’

While news that Manchester United have beaten city rivals Manchester City to the signature of Alexis Sanchez will go down well with home supporters, an announcement that David De Gea has signed a new long-term contract would eclipse that.

According to The Daily Telegraph, United have been in talks with De Gea’s representatives about a new long-term for the last two weeks as they look to end talk of a move to Real Madrid once and for all.

De Gea’s current deal is due to expire at the end of next season, but Jose Mourinho’s side do have an option to a further 12 months that they will trigger if they fail to resolve his future before then.

However, despite reports suggesting United are already in contract talks with De Gea, the Spaniard was coy on chat of a new deal and just wants to concentrate on football for now.

“I don’t think it’s the time to start talking about the future, it’s not the time to be talking contracts,” De Gea told Sky Sports. “We have a lot of games between now and the end of the season and the first thing we need to think about is Burnley this weekend.

“It’s all about getting your head own, focusing, working hard, competing in training, keeping fit and picking up points.”

De Gea has been immense for United this season, keeping more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues (13).

‘Mata poised to leave for nothing in the summer’

Manchester United have already extended the contracts of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw by a further 12 months but a decision is yet to be made on Juan Mata, reports ESPN.

The 29-year-old’s current deal is due to expire at the end of the season and he is now free to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign sides, leaving United at risk of losing the Spaniard.

Mata was widely expected to leave United as soon as Jose Mourinho was appointed manager in 2016 but the former Chelsea star has established himself as a key player under the Portuguese.

Nevertheless, Mata’s long-term United future is currently up in the air and with Alexis Sanchez poised to sign from Arsenal this month, it would not be a surprise to see him go at the end of the season.

Since joining United in January 2014, only Wayne Rooney (50) has played a direct hand in more Premier League goals than Mata (43) of all players at the club.