Transfer news: Mourinho leaves Mkhitaryan out of Stoke game as swap deal with Alexis Sanchez looms

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been left out of Manchester United’s match day squad, to face Stoke City in a Premier League fixture on Monday.

Speaking ahead of the game at Old Trafford, United boss Jose Mourinho admitted that it was not a “tactical decision”.

Mourinho said: “I would lie if I said it was a pure tactical decision.”

It increases speculation that Mkhitaryan could be used as makeweight in a deal to bring Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.

Mkhitaryan has started just two of United’s last 15 games and struggled to make the bench for most of November and December.

Mourinho also took off the Armenian midfielder in their 2-0 win over Derby County in the FA Cup last week.

Mkhitaryan cost United £30million when he was signed from Borussia Dortmund 18 months ago and he has been linked with a move to Arsenal as a makeweight in any deal to bring Alexis Sanchez to United.

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