City, contrastingly, were only prepared to pay £20m and have consequently given up hope of signing Sanchez this month.
United then enticed the player himself by offering him a huge wage of £400,000 a week.
That salary will see him become the highest-paid player in Premier League history.
And he will also be United’s most handsomely paid star, leapfrogging Paul Pogba.
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Sanchez: Arsenal star is ready to reject Pep Guardiola for Manchester United
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Danny Murphy predicts Sanchez and Ozil to leave Arsenal
The Independent say United’s third and final tactic was putting pressure on him to leave Arsenal this month.
The Chilean has never looked like signing a new contract at the Emirates, despite his current deal expiring at the end of the season.
There was, however, a feeling he could stick around and then join City on a free transfer.
But United’s decision to push him on a move appears to have paid off.