Gary Neville seems even more confused by Alexis Sanchez’s impending move to Manchester United than most Arsenal fans.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the ex-United defender admitted that he just can’t wrap his head around Manchester City pulling out of the race to sign Alexis.

“I don’t think anybody thought anything other than Alexis Sanchez would be playing for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but from what we hear he’s close to signing for Manchester United,” said Neville. “I still don’t believe that because I just don’t see the economics.

“I’m just looking at it economically. Manchester United have apparently offered £35million, £5m for an agent fee and £350,000-a-week which comes in at just over £100m for Alexis Sanchez, who is 29 years old.

“City are apparently saying they won’t pay more than £72m. Gone are the days where you can think a Bosman signing is going to cost you less than it would do if you were paying a fee to a club.

“If Sanchez had two years left on his contract you’d have to pay Arsenal £75m to £80m and him £200,000 to £250,000-a-week. It would cost you £100m. He’s going to cost £100m anyway so I’m not quite sure what City’s economics are, particularly when they’ve spent £50m on Kyle Walker and the package of his wages over five years might cost £80m.

“They’re willing to put more into Walker than they are Sanchez. I’m struggling to see why it doesn’t make sense for City to pay more to get Sanchez because ultimately it seems to me City think they can get him cheaper than the market would be offering for a player of that quality. That’s what doesn’t make sense to me.

“When you are Manchester United you spend £95m on Paul Pogba, you spend £80m on Romelu Lukaku and with the wages you’ve got £120m and even £150m invested in both of them.

“Sanchez becomes quite cheap at £100m. if you think about Neymar at £200m and Philippe Coutinho at £140m, I get the point on the morals, but I’m not sure why City won’t match them financially.

“I do not understand the economics from City to think they can only offer a £70m package for a player that should be worth £120m to £130m in the market. I don’t understand it, it doesn’t make sense.

“They’ve always been a club that have matched United toe-to-toe for money. I don’t understand why they think they don’t have to now.”

Alexis’ reported move to United is set to take place this week. The 29-year-old, who has just six months left on his current deal with Arsenal, was left out of the squad to travel to Bournemouth at the weekend.

Arsene Wenger revealed on Sunday that the Chilean’s future will be decided in the next couple of days. “I don’t master the rhythm of it, but it could happen today, tomorrow or not at all,” he said. “It will be decided in the next 48 hours.”

As Neville laid out in his rant, City pulling out of the deal to sign Alexis when they’ve been chasing him for not just months but years still feels a little bit off.

Although agents do have a lot of sway over their clients in modern football, and Alexis’ is said to be demanding the £5m in fees United are supposedly willing to cough up, I still have a feeling that Pep Guardiola and City will have a final roll of the dice.

In such a short transfer window, deals can move along very quickly.