Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez is likely to join rival Manchester United this month, his manager Arsene Wenger said ahead of Saturday's Premier League match against Crystal Palace.

The Chilean international is out of contract at the end of the season and was also a target for Manchester City, but United appears to have stolen a march on its local rival.

"I worked on transfers for 30 years so it is likely to happen, but at any moment it can break down ... If it doesn't happen, he will play on Saturday," Wenger told a news conference, adding that United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan could move in the other direction.

"I like the player. We played many times against him when he was at (Borussia) Dortmund. He appreciated the quality of our games ... The wages would not be a problem," Wenger added.

"This would be an exchange of players and I think one would replace the other," Wenger said, adding that he would still be in the market for more recruits.

Arsenal sold Theo Walcott to Premier League rival Everton on Wednesday.

Armenia international Mkhitaryan has faded this season and has fallen down the pecking order under manager Jose Mourinho, who omitted the 28-year-old from United's squad for its 3-0 win over Stoke City on Monday.

British media reports say that United is prepared to pay Sanchez more than 350,000 pounds (US$485,000) per week. "I wouldn't like to come out on the numbers because that's Man United's problem," Wenger said. "I respect Man United because they generate the money they pay to the players with their own resources, so you have to respect that.

"He's 29 years old so the next contract will be, of course, very important for him." 

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on whether Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to Dortmund's starting line-up at Hertha Berlin today, with the star striker reportedly chasing a move to Arsenal.

Dortmund coach Peter Stoeger has told magazine Sport Bild he "assumes" Aubameyang, who has scored 21 goals in 23 matches this season, will stay, but "if he leaves, it will be hard to replace him with that goal quota".

German media reports claim the Gabon hot-shot is chasing a transfer to Arsenal after being disciplined on Sunday, with Dortmund wanting 70 million euros (US$85.6m) for last season's Bundesliga top scorer. 

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