IT’S TIME TO CHOOSE
City play hardball in hope that Pep appeal will sway Sanchez to snub United
ALEXIS SANCHEZ was last night told by the two Manchester clubs: It’s up to you now.
City are prepared to run the risk of losing long-term target Sanchez to neighbours United because they will not engage in a bidding war for the Arsenal striker.
They hope the player’s desire to play under Pep Guardiola again will swing a deal their way.
United have attempted to hijack City’s move by offering the Gunners a £35million package, including Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and manager Jose Mourinho made no attempt to disguise his interest by describing Sanchez as a “phenomenal player”.
Highly placed City sources insist they will not attempt to outbid United and will refuse to meet Arsenal’s £35m asking price – as well as the £5m agent fee – for a player who will
be a free agent when his contract runs out this summer.
City are understood to want to pay only £20m to land Sanchez in this window. Their initial urgency to sign him has been eased by the news Gabriel Jesus could return from his knee injury in as little as three weeks.
They are prepared to wait until the summer, confident that Sanchez is keen on a reunion with Guardiola, who pipped City for his signature when he took him to Barcelona from Udinese in 2011.
But there are concerns at City that Sanchez is so anxious to quit the Gunners this month he could run out of patience and decide to join United.
Mourinho chose his words carefully but inferred Sanchez is too good a player for them to ignore if he is available.
He said: “We don’t believe in signing a player just to sign a player.
“What we believe is there are some players in world football that if you have the chance to sign them, you have to try – and that’s it.
“But in relation to Sanchez I don’t say a word. The only words I can say is he is a phenomenal player.” Guardiola would not talk specifically about Sanchez but told his players they must not allow the saga to become a distraction ahead of tomorrow’s Anfield trip.
“The players have two choices, follow what people are saying or follow me,” he said.
“Everyone knows the quality of Alexis but I’m sorry, I can’t answer questions about him.”