Transfer News: Manchester United Planning to Rival Manchester City For £80 Million-Rated Forward Next Summer

Manchester United will battle Manchester City for the signing of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez who can leave on a free next summer, according to reports.

Sanchez, the Chilean forward, looked set to join Pep Guardiola's City on the final day of the transfer window in August, after a reported £80 million (about $108 million) bid.

But Arsene Wenger resisted selling, meaning Sanchez is free to talk to any club he wishes in January and make a pre-contract agreement for the summer.

That looked set to be City, but Jose Mourinho has thrown a spanner into the works by entering United into the race for the 28-year-old, according to The Sun.

Sanchez has made just one start in the Premier League this season, and scored his first goal of the campaign in a 3-1 win over Cologne in the Europa League last week.

Related: Why is Jose Mourinho in Danger of Doing an Arsene Wenger at Manchester United?

While Arsenal sit 12th in the table after five games, Sanchez's two potential suitors are level on points and goal difference at the top of the league. City leads only due to the fact that teams are listed in alphabetical order.

Guardiola's men, even without Sanchez, have torn past teams at the start of this season, scoring 15 goals and conceding zero in the last three games, including a 5-0 win against Liverpool.

Manchester United's football has not been quite as aesthetically pleasing, but Mourinho's team has succeeded in grinding down teams and then trampling over them. Twice, against Swansea and Everton on Sunday, United has not played particularly well but come out on the right end of a 4-0 result.

Sanchez only has to wait four months to know where he'll be playing his football next season, and with two good choices, Mourinho has given him a nice problem to have.