Sanchez IS at fever pitch... and won’t be leaving club, says Wenger
ARSENAL doctors have visited Alexis Sanchez and have confirmed that he has ’flu, easing the fears of fans who saw the Chilean’s Instagram post advertising his illness as a ruse.
Boss Arsene Wenger will let the Chilean return to training late and once again insisted that he will not be leaving the Emirates this summer.
‘He has ’flu. I had him on text yesterday, he will come back as soon as possible. We were in touch with him and his doctor. No basic problem except he should come back tomorrow but now he comes back Tuesday,’ Wenger said yesterday.
The Chilean striker, 28, posted a picture on social media (below) looking miserable alongside his dog, saying, ‘Sick’ as he takes an extended break after the Confederations Cup.
Sanchez wants to play Champions League football, but despite Manchester City’s interest, Arsene Wenger has insisted that he will not be sold, despite having only a year left on his contract.
‘There is no development in his future it is always the same. He is staying.’
Asked whether Sanchez has told him he wants to leave, Wenger added: ‘I cannot reveal what he says, I can’t reveal secret conversations.’
City are said to be confident he will join but Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis promised that this summer would be a ‘catalyst for change’. Both boss and board agree that they need to retain Sanchez, even if he runs down his current deal.
Wenger’s reasoning has always been that with 30 goals and 19 assists last season, Sanchez is irreplaceable and if Arsenal’s long-promised challenge for a title is to materialise, there is no player who could offer them those kind of statistics.
Arsenal have not given up on signing Monaco’s Thomas Lemar — although it will take a club record £60m fee to get him.
Monaco have already sold Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy to Manchester City for a combined £90m and Tiemoue Bakayoko to Chelsea for £34m.
Real Madrid are ready to pay £160m for 18-year-old Kylian Mbappe. Arsenal accept that if that moves goes through, their chances of getting Lemar will be over.
But Monaco are yet to sanction the move, so Arsenal’s interest remains.