Arsenal boost as PSG end their pursuit of Sanchez
Arsenal have received a significant boost with Paris Saint-germain dropping their interest in Alexis Sanchez following their worldrecord £198million signing of Neymar.
At the same time Chelsea and Manchester United have received encouragement to sign Serge Aurier after PSG decided to put the right-back up for sale.
Aurier is highly rated by PSG but, after the arrival of Dani Alves and with the Belgium international right-back Thomas Meunier also at the club, he can now leave.
PSG were confident of signing Sanchez before they agreed the extraordinary deal to buy Neymar from Barcelona.
The French giants had hoped to sign either Neymar, Sanchez or Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe during this window and are delighted to have secured the Brazilian, who was their first-choice.
Sanchez is still wanted by Manchester City but there is a growing sense that Arsenal will make him see out the remainder of his deal and leave for free next summer.
Bayern Munich, who also spoke to Sanchez’s representatives, have already backed off because of his wage demands and senior PSG sources yesterday strongly rejected reports from the striker’s native Chile that they will bid £80million for the 28-year-old.
Keeping Sanchez would be a huge boost for Arsenal and will also help restore manager Arsene Wenger’s credibility, even if he and the club are willing to write off what would be a big fee for the player.
It has been suggested that PSG rate Aurier at £27million but the club has yet to enter into negotiations over his sale and are prepared to listen to offers for the 24-year-old Ivorian.
PSG believe Aurier needs a fresh start to revive his career. He is currently appealing against a twomonth prison sentence for assaulting a police officer last year and, because of that conviction, was banned from entering the UK for PSG’S Champions League tie against Arsenal last season.
If the conviction is upheld it remains to be seen whether it affects his chances of playing in England but Chelsea are believed to have now joined United in considering a move for him.
Both clubs are looking to strengthen in the full-back and wing-back areas.
United do not have experienced cover for Antonio Valencia and Chelsea are in a similar position with Victor Moses.