MOST WANTED
Especially by us insists team-mate Mustafi who admits in-demand Sanchez has the extraordinary skills and desire to excel in any team in the world
NO wonder Alexis Sanchez is in such demand.
Shkodran Mustafi hailed his Arsenal team-mate as a rare and world-class talent.
And as he revealed how difficult it is to stop such a feared attacker, Mustafi underlined not just why some of Europe’s biggest clubs are jostling to sign him, but why he is also so desperate for Sanchez to stay.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are among the clubs coveting the Chilean.
At the same time, the Gunners are trying to persuade the 28-year-old that his future lies at the Emirates and to sign a new deal worth more than £275,000 a week.
Mustafi said: “Of course I hope he stays. It would be a pity to lose him.
“Alexis is an exceptional player, for me one of the best in world football. I have experienced few players who are as hungry as him.
“He is nimble, agile, but despite his size very sturdy and can dribble past players. Alexis is a complete player.
“As soon as he is on the ball, everyone knows – something can happen.
“Once he has made his way to the front of the goal, you will not be able to take the ball.
“He can slow down at full speed and hit a hooked shot – you never know what to plan next minute. It is definitely advisable not to allow a oneon-one situation, but to play against him with cover.”
Those attributes are why Sanchez is a wanted man as he heads into the final year of his contract.
His former boss at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola, wants a reunion at Manchester City, having earmarked the star as his top attacking target for this summer.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte also has Sanchez on his transfer wish list as he aims to improve his title-winning squad.
Having painfully lost a number of top players to Premier League rivals in the past, Arsenal are determined to dig their heels in this time and stop Sanchez joining another topflight domestic side.
But that will give some encouragement to their Champions League tormentors Bayern Munich, who are among the clubs outside England keeping tabs on Sanchez’s situation.
And their need for a marquee signing would be even greater if they lost unsettled superstar striker Robert Lewandowski, a target for Chelsea and Manchester United.
Mustafi said: “Sanchez can play in any team, clearly.”
He could come up against club-mate Sanchez tonight when his Germany side face Chile in the Confederations Cup in Russia. Sanchez started Chile’s first game on the bench due to an ankle injury, but still came on to set up the goals that earned them a 2-0 win.
Although he made it clear he was far from fully fit by posting a picture of his swollen ankle on social media after the game, Sanchez’s latest international exploits came after a brilliant season for Arsenal when he scored 30 goals and claimed 13 assists. However, his heroics were not enough to earn Arsene Wenger’s side a top-four finish. And Mustafi, reflecting on his debut season at Arsenal told German paper Bild: “It was a roller-coaster ride, it went up and down. “I missed the first three games and preparation and could not participate. “Then we had a good run for a long time. In January, February we then slightly dipped and lost too many points. “We won the FA Cup in my first year. That’s nice, but I would have liked to be part of the Champions League next season. “The Premier League is definitely the toughest league. I have now played in a few countries. “There are always surprises here, which is not the case, for example, in Spain. “Here you never know who is suddenly at the top. Chelsea was in the middle, now they are champions. “Leicester won the Premier League last year. You never know what’s going on, that’s what makes the league so difficult.”