Finally, the Premier League season is back. And with just two weeks of the transfer window remaining, it is only a short while until we see clubs spring into panic mode. At long last, Manchester City are preparing an official offer for Arsenal frontman Alexis Sanchez. The Blues are keen to try and persuade the Gunners to allow the Chilean star to leave the club. However, Arsene Wenger certainly won’t let the contract rebel go without a fight.
The Gunners have shown that they don’t need Sanchez, winning the Community Shield as he watched from the stands, though it is certain that their vie to return to the Champions League as quickly as possible would be a whole lot easier if the striker did remain at the Emirates. However, it seems the 28-year-old has become disillusioned at Arsenal and is now odds on with free bets f to leave.
Sanchez has been the talk of the transfer window for the majority of the summer as City and PSG have repeatedly tried to prise him away from the Gunners, though Wenger is holding a firm stance and has continuously reiterated that his man is not for sale and will remain in North London. That said, reports now suggest Pep Guardiola is set to test Wenger’s stance with an offer worth £60million.
Guardiola has ordered the bid as he looks to bolster his attacking ranks. Last season, the Catalan coach was highly critical of his side’s shyness in front of goal and will be hoping for a different story this time round as they try for the title, Guardiola having endured his first season in management without silverware.
So what is Sanchez worth at the Etihad? The club are said to be prepared to offer the striker a huge contract of £400,000 a week, making him the highest player in the Premier League by some margin and a feat that Arsenal simply cannot match. And following Neymar’s transfer to PSG, City believe Sanchez is all theirs to take. The fact Sanchez wishes to leave certainly makes the situation easier as he is prepared to wait until the end of the season and leave on a free if he has to.
Following Arsenal’s dramatic 3-2 win over Leicester on Friday night, Wenger spoke of Sanchez’s future. The Frenchman said: “He practised well today, this morning, had a good session for the first time because he had a little muscular strain.
“He is focused and happy in the dressing room because we won the game.”
Sanchez again watched from the stands as his teammates were victorious before leaving for Paris after Wenger afforded his men some time off. The striker is not excepted to be fit in time for the Gunners’ away tie with Stoke.