PSG in for Sanchez but Wenger insists he is staying put
Paris St-germain have renewed their interest in Alexis Sanchez, despite Arsene Wenger yesterday promising that his star striker will not be sold this summer regardless of whether he extends his contract.
With Monaco having already refused two offers from Arsenal for Thomas Lemar, manager Wenger said a decision had now collectively been reached over Sanchez and that it is for the 28-year-old to help get Arsenal back into the Champions League. “The decision has been made and we will stick to that – the
decision is not to sell,” said Wenger. But PSG have been back in touch determined to test that resolve, and, according to sources, Sanchez expects to be allowed to leave.
He is attracted to PSG, who last night were reported to be ready to trigger Neymar’s £197 million release clause at Barcelona. They can meet Sanchez’s financial demands and also offer Champions League football – and it is seen as unlikely that Arsenal would be prepared to sell him to a Premier League rival with Pep Guardiola keen to take him to Manchester City.
Wenger appears to be prepared for the Chilean international to see out the final year of his contract if
he does not sign a new deal and leave for a free transfer next summer. But his comments are certain to attract some scepticism – he previously sold Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie rather than let them enter the final year of their contracts – but he is adamant that the Sanchez situation is different.
Arsenal’s greater financial strength now certainly makes it easier to say no but Wenger also pointed to Sanchez’s age and how he is several years younger than Van Persie was in 2012.
“Every case is different, Van Persie was going from 30 to 31, when he left he had one year on his contract, Sanchez is younger,” he said.
Wenger was speaking ahead of Arsenal’s pre-season friendly in Shanghai today against Bayern Munich, who are also keen on Sanchez but understood to be reluctant to meet his wage demands – Arsenal are understood to be offering him £275,00 a week for a new contract.
Sanchez had said on Saturday that he wanted to play in the Champions League. Wenger, though, still holds out hope that a strong start to the new season might prompt Sanchez to rethink.
Arsenal’s current stance is likely also to have been influenced by difficulties in advancing any negotiations with Monaco over Lemar or Kylian Mbappe. Although Wenger
has signed Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon, he is more likely to replace Lucas Perez or Olivier Giroud among the main central strikers. Wenger has been in contact with Sanchez since his involvement in the Confederations Cup with Chile and is ignoring his most recent interview.
“The main focus for us is to concentrate on the Premier League and the Premier League for me today is more important than the Champions League.” said Wenger.
“We played 20 years in the Champions League, that’s 17 years before Sanchez arrived and three years with him, so he can get us back in there.”