Arsenal FC maintain that they will be people to keep star forward Alexis Sanchez around for the long haul, but in order to do so they might have to fend off the pursuit of PSG. According to Goal, Sanchez and his representation: “were in Paris on Friday for meetings with Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Antero Henrique.
“The French club are growing increasingly confident of signing the Arsenal star for a €50 million fee inclusive of add-ons following preliminary talks with the Gunners.”
Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger recently said that Alexis Sanchez hadn’t asked to leave the club, but as talks to potentially extend the Chilean’s contract kept get putting off and putting off, it’s opened the door to his considering his options elsewhere. It’s much more than just typical summer transfer gossip too.
PSG are also going after Barcelona superstar Neymar, and if they were able to land both the Brazilian and Sanchez, what an Earth-shattering double swoop that would be. French newspaper Le Parisien claims that Neymar has started telling his Barcelona teammates intent on a Paris Saint-Germain move.
Spanish publication Marca reports that Neymar’s teammates are trying to persuade him to stay.
Perhaps the most captivating part of this story surrounds the way PSG Manager Unai Emery has handled it. Instead of the usual industry standard cliche “we don’t discuss other team’s players” or the commonplace evading/lying/dismissing of transfer negotiations as just rumors, Emery has been blatant about it.
Good for him. He’s doing things his way.
“PSG wants the best players in the world, who are in the best clubs in the world,’ Emery told L’Equipe when asked about interest in Sanchez and Neymar.
‘If we want to compete with Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid and win the Champions League, then PSG must have a player of the world top five. We are trying to get one signed this summer. ‘The president and the club have been working for years to attract the best players.”
‘The team, but also the fans, would be glad that there is a top five, six or seven player in addition to the already strong ones who are here. This quest is not easy. Maybe we’ll get there, maybe not.’
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV.
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