GUNNERS U-TURN
Sanchez can go if City offer Sterling
ARSENAL are ready to sell Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City before tomorrow’s transfer deadline following a fiery management meeting on Monday.
It will still take a staggering offer for the Gunners to do business with their Premier League rivals — and last nightght they turned down a £ 50millionmillion straight cash bid from City.
But the decision to consider ona selling represents a significant U-turn fromm Arsene Wenger’s stance that the Chilean would not be allowed to go.
The manager, who is under intense pressure after two defeats in three games this season, led a heated meeting- with his coaching ng staff at the club’s training ing HQ. It was concluded thathat it would be best to sell players who have made it clear they want to leave, providing interested parties meet their valuation.
Chelsea have already had a £35m offer for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain accepted by the Gunners, though that move has stalled. And Arsenal are now ready to negotiate with City over a mega deal for Sanchez.
City want a straight cash deal for the former Barcelona star. However, Arsenal would much prefer a player-plus- cash offer and have their sights on Raheem Sterling. Arsenal will have very little time to sign a replacement for Sanchez if Sterling isn’t part of the trtransfer, but a bid in excexcess of £70m — a huge amount given Sanchez can leave for nothing next summer — may persuade them.
Sterling is open to a move to the Emirates. The 22-year- old grew up in London and in a World Cup year, knows regular first-team football would be readily available at Arsenal. But City manager Pep Guardiola is reluctant to let the forward go following his two goals in City’s opening three Premier League games.
Some of Sanchez’s team-mates believe the uncertainty over his future is destabilising the dressing room. And there have been concerns over his effort in training and matches from coaches over the past six months.
It is understood Sanchez has told Chile boss Juan Antonio Pizzi he would like to sit out their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay tomorrow so he can sort out his future.
City, who are set to sell midfielder Fabian Delph to Stoke, remain in pole position to land West Bromwich Albion captain Jonny Evans, despite Arsenal joining the race for the centre back. West Brom are also set to sign Kieran Gibbs from the Gunners in a deal worth £6m.
And Inter Milan have made a new offer to Arsenal for German centre back Shkodran Mustafi, offering a £4.6m loan fee with an option to buy for £23m.