According to reports, Manchester United’s reported double swoop for Bayern players this summer will help the Bundesliga champions with their pursuit of Alexis Sánchez.

Arsenal have increased their contract offer to Alexis to a rumoured £270,000-a-week deal, according to reports. This followed news that Bayern cannot afford such high wages for the Chilean, meaning they’re immediately at a disadvantage in their attempts to sign the forward. Boo hoo.

With 29 goals and a further 19 assists in all competitions for the Gunners this season, it’s essential that they keep hold of their talisman. Wenger has already stated that regardless of whether he signs an extension or not, the 28-year-old will not be sold.

However, Carlo Ancelotti is apparently keen to try and persuade the Frenchman to let go of Alexis, not least given the fact that the two clubs aren’t domestic rivals unlike Chelsea and Manchester City, who were both heavily linked too.

In the final 12 months of his existing deal with Arsenal, Alexis has already said he’d wait until the end of the season before mulling over his options. He could agree a pre-contract with another club in January next year if negotiations are not finalised by then..

Don Balon has said that the Bavarians need to raise £52m in first-team sales before they focus their energies on a formal move for Alexis.

Renato Sanches, 19, was previously linked with a move to Old Trafford before joining Bayern last summer in a lucrative switch.

It’s fair to say that the Portuguese wonderkid hasn’t settled in seamlessly in Germany, with only two Bundesliga starts since the start of 2017.

Constantly an unused substitute on the bench, the midfielder is frustrated by his lack of regular minutes and could be persuaded to join United if José Mourinho gives him first-team assurances.

Another player who is in a similar situation to Sanches, is Douglas Costa. The 26-year-old winger has featured more heavily than Sanches in comparison, but is regularly utilised as a substitute and wants to play every week.

With seven goals and nine assists across all competitions this term, he could be a useful asset in United’s first-team squad and may be intrigued by the possibility of a Premier League switch. Tottenham and Juventus are also reportedly interested.

Wherever the duo go, if they actually depart this summer, they will not be sold for cut-price transfer fees and Bayern will then reportedly be prepared to use the money to approach Arsenal (and Alexis) with offers that neither can allegedly refuse.