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United in pole position for Alexis Sanchez

MANCHESTER UNITED have become the new favourites to sign Alexis Sanchez after Manchester City refused to raise their offer for the Arsenal player who is out of contract at the end of the season.

Jose Mourinho called Sanchez a “phenomenal player” and Sky Bet rate the Old Trafford giants 10-11 to seal a deal for the classy Chilean in this January transfer window.

City are 7-4 to win the tug-of-war with their Manchester rivals and Sanchez is 100-30 to see out his contract at Arsenal.

Maybe City are less desperate to do any kind of expensive deal in January with Gabriel Jesus expected to make his comeback sooner than anticipated from injury after Pep Guardiola claimed he was only a couple of weeks away from a return.

Jesus remains sidelined for Sunday's trip to Liverpool with the unbeaten 15-point runaway Premier League leaders also missing sidelined skipper Vincent Kompany.

It is arguably the toughest handicap remaining for City in their quest to go through the league season unbeaten and Liverpool will be boosted by the recovery of top scorer Mohamed Salah from a groin problem.

City, who opened up at 66-1 with bet365 to go unbeaten this term, are now 9-2 with the firm to match Arsenal’s Invincibles, while it’s only 4-7 that Guardiola’s outfit are champions by a record margin of at least 19 points.

Guardiola seems to be loving life at the Etihad whether or not Sanchez joins but things are rumoured to be less jolly down in west London as Chelsea prepare to take on Leicester.

Antonio Conte is 10-11 with Coral to start next term at Stamford Bridge and the same price to exit following suggestions he has become frustrated with Chelsea’s transfer policy.

Quique Sanchez Flores has hardened in favouritism to fill Stoke’s managerial vacancy with the Espanyol boss 1-6 to replace Mark Hughes.

Ryan Giggs is 1-2 with Hills to become the next manager of the Welsh national team after reports he has been interviewed for the role. Craig Bellamy is next in the betting at 11-4 with Coral.

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