Arsene Wenger attempted to include Anthony Martial in Arsenal's swap deal with Manchester United for Alexis Sanchez.

ESPN says then Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had initially identified Frenchman Martial as the ideal replacement for the outgoing Sanchez.

But the Red Devils immediately blocked his attempts to snare Martial and instead Henrikh Mkhitaryan was put forward.

Wenger's affinity for Martial, now 24, stemmed from his decision to send Arsenal scouts to monitor the player as a teenager in France.

But Jose Mourinho, United boss at the time, was much more willing to let Armenian international Mkhitaryan leave.