Jose Mourinho says Henrikh Mkhitaryan won’t play against Burnley this weekend, as Arsenal get closer to a deal for the Armenian.

Mourinho first reiterated Arsene Wenger’s comments about the current status of the deal.

He said about Alexis: “Nothing new, I think clearly everybody knows that we are there. Especially when Arsenal’s manager speaks so clearly like he did there is no point in trying to hide or to deny. But (it’s) not done, not done at all.”

Then, on the weekend’s match, Mourinho confirmed there’s no injury problem for Mkhitaryan, but he won’t play.

He told reporters: “No, not selected but in very good condition, training really well, and in perfect condition like the others.”

Clearly the transfer is still very much a possibility.

BBC’s David Ornstein says Mkhitaryan’s agent Mino Raiola is causing the hold up. Manchester United are happy to sell, the 28-year-old is happy to join Arsenal, but Raiola wants another pay day.

We shouldn’t find that surprising, given the 50-year-old acts the same way with every transfer. Manchester United gave Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic big money deals thanks to Raiola’s negotiating tactics. The agent reportedly took more than his fair share of the cash on each occasion.

Nonetheless, the deal has an air of inevitability about it now.

It’s hard to turn back when everyone knows Sanchez wants United and Mkhitaryan wants Arsenal. I’d be surprised if Alexis starts for the Gunners against Crystal Palace, and the delay is hurting both clubs while the players are sitting on the sidelines.

With any luck, the club can clear up the situation with Raiola before Wednesday’s semi-final.