CITY £50M IN BID FOR SANCHEZ
BUT ARSENAL WANT STERLING AS PART OF DEAL
MANCHESTER City have tabled a £50m bid for Alexis Sanchez in an attempt to push through a move before the transfer window closes.
The offer was rejected by Arsenal – but City are expected to come back in with an increased bid before Thursday’s deadline.
City are determined to make it a cashonly deal – despite Arsenal attempting to include Raheem Sterling in negotiations this week.
A swap has not been completely ruled out – and should Arsene Wenger insist on the England international heading in the opposite direction, City will be faced with a difficult decision as the clock ticks down to deadline day.
The hope within the Etihad is that a cash bid will be too good to refuse with Sanchez becoming a free agent at the end of the season.
It is a significant move after Pep Guardiola has spent the summer pursuing the Chilean international.
The Sterling development has also offered City encouragement, with Arsenal previously steadfastly refusing to get involved in any negotiations over their prize asset. That stance has now softened, with the player also said to be confident he can secure the move he’s been holding out for since learning of Guardiola’s interest.
Senior City sources were adamant Sergio Aguero would not be brought into any negotiations.
And while they would prefer not to include Sterling, they are yet to determine how serious Arsenal are about taking the £49m winger.
With time running out until Thursday’s transfer deadline a swap deal may have to be seriously considered if Guardiola is to land one of his top targets.