Arsenal target £35m Malcom

ALEXIS SANCHEZ’S relationship with the Arsenal squad and staff has deteriorated due to his expected move this month to Manchester City or Manchester United. It is difficult to envisage Sanchez staying beyond January, but Arsenal will not sell unless they can bring in a replacement, with a £35million bid for Bordeaux’s 20-year-old Malcom expected this week. The Brazilian, who can play wide right or left, is an outstanding technical player, but Arsenal recognise he will take time to adapt to the Premier League. Negotiations are likely to continue throughout the month with his club holding out for £45m.

Sanchez was left on the bench for the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea because of the transfer issue and the distance it had placed between him and his team-mates during training sessions.

With the Chilean set on leaving, and ideally wanting to join old boss Pep Guardiola at City — though he is considering United’s bid — Arsenal have been trying to ensure a replacement comes in this month.

Thomas Lemar was initially Wenger’s favourite but Arsenal failed to land him with a £90m bid last August, when Sanchez was on the verge of joining City for £50m.