Arsenal eager to swap Sanchez for City midfielder in January

LONDON: Arsenal are keen on another tilt for Raheem Sterling in January, according to reports.

The Gunners were eager to do a deal for the midfielder in the summer, but Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola did not want to sell.

But Arsene Wenger could make a move for the 22-year-old in the new year’s transfer window, according to the Mirror.

Wenger will not have a strong bargaining position, given City will be losing a far younger player than Sanchez, 28.

But City were keen on bringing the former Barcelona winger to the Etihad before the summer transfer window but a move broke down when Arsenal could not sign Thomas Lamar from Monaco.

Guardiola has an embarrassment of riches in the final third of the pitch, with City owner Sheikh Mansour bankrolling the most expensively assembled team in football history.

Manchester United are also keeping an eye on Sanchez’s situation.

Sanchez has returned to the Emirates after spending much of the summer in home country Chile – but he has yet to find top form for his club.

City have netted 22 goals in an extraordinary scoring start to the season and they are currently top of the English Premier League on alphabetical order ahead of rivals United.

Guardiola’s side face goalless Crystal Palace at home in the English Premier League tomorrow while Arsenal host West Bromwich on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Arsenal and City are also tracking Fulham whizz kid Matt O’Riley, according to reports.

England have already snapped up the teenager – who is eligible to play for Denmark – for friendlies against Brazil and South Africa ahead of next month’s Under-17 World Cup in India.

But that would have come as no surprise to Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic, who predicted: “I expect he can be an important player for our club in the future.”

O’Riley operates as a playmaker and is winning fans over with his technical ability and sweet left foot. — The Sun, London