Arsenal accepted a £60 million bid from Manchester City for star forward Alexis Sanchez on summer transfer window deadline day, but it was not finalized in time. The Gunners, reportedly, understand the huge mistake that they made, but they still won’t be selling the Chilean to Man City when the next transfer window opens in 12 days.
If Alexis Sanchez does move to the Etihad, it won’t be till the summer. Press Association reports that City realize:
“Sanchez, who is in the final year of his Gunners contract, could sign a pre-contract agreement elsewhere from January but that is unlikely to influence their thinking.”
“The club do not feel it makes a lot of sense to sign the Chile international mid-season and potentially risk disrupting the attacking balance of a squad that has swept almost all before them this term.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said in October that it was possible Sanchez (as well as Mesut Ozil, another Gunners star out of contract at the end of the season) could be transferred in January. However, the Frenchman did an about face on that stance, saying in very late November that the duo are staying put until the summer.
In 15 competitions with Arsenal this season, Sanchez has been quite productive this season, scoring five goals and providing four assists.
Meanwhile Sky Sports reports that Alexis Sanchez: “is keen to rekindle his relationship with Pep Guardiola having worked with him at Barcelona and would welcome a move to City in either the forthcoming transfer window or at the end of the season.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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