CITY SWEAT AS SANCHEZ BIDES TIME
ALEXIS SANCHEZ has sparked a bidding war for his signature.
Manchester City looked to be in pole position to land the Arsenal hitman this month.
But fresh interest from Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain means Sanchez still has his pick of Europe’s biggest clubs.
With Arsenal dropping their asking price to £30m for Sanchez, who is out of contract and free in the summer, the 29-year-old is in huge demand.
And it appears Sanchez and his advisers are in no rush to make their choice as they weigh up their offers.
United boss Jose Mourinho would love to thwart City rival Pep Guardiola and lure Sanchez to Old Trafford.
It is understood Arsenal dealt with United’s initial approach by saying they would be interested if France striker Anthony Martial moved to the Emirates as part of the deal.
Sanchez is believed to have teased team-mates this week by saying “what one” when he was quizzed about his supposed impending move to Manchester. It now looks like the former Barcelona striker will play a waiting game.
City have already agreed to pay Sanchez £260,000 a week AFTER tax with a £30m signing on fee if he signs in July.
If he signs this month, he will receive a £15m signing-on bonus, with City saying they only want to pay Arsenal £20m – £40m less than they offered last summer.
But with the interest being cranked up, that plan looks to be in jeopardy.
Arsenal are understood to still want to sign Monaco’s Thomas Lemar, who they failed to secure on August deadline day for £92m, but have offered just £60m this time.
Mourinho might be able to offer the Gunners an incentive in any deal by allowing centre-back Chris Smalling to go to north London.
Wenger is looking for a central defender and after turning away from Chelsea’s David Luiz due to his massive wage demands, is also considering West Brom’s £30mrated Jonny Evans.