According to media reports from the UK, Arsenal could be dealt a major blow in losing star striker Alexis Sanchez to EPL rival, Manchester City.
Per The Sun—via noted Chilean journalist Fernando Solabarrieta—and The Metro, a deal has been agreed upon to for the 28-year-old Chilean talisman is join City. While nothing is official or confirmed yet, Sanchez—currently away playing for his native Chile in the FIFA Confederations Cup—led the fifth-placed Gunners with 30 goals in 51 appearances for Arsenal during the 2016-17 season.
Currently under contract with Arsenal till next summer, contract talks between Sanchez and the normally-tight-fisted Gunners have reportedly stalled.
Linked to other Champions league-qualifying sides such as EPL champion Chelsea and Bundesliga powerhouse, Bayern Munich, Arsenal cannot afford to surrender another top-flight player to another team without getting nothing in return.
From Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri to Cesc Fabregas, the sight of seeing former Arsenal players on opposing teams, when the club failed to secure and retain their services is a proverbial slap to the face, as Arsenal is one of the richest clubs in all of Europe, yet they seem to have issues in paying them proper wages.
If there is one thing that galls this writer is the self-serving attitude from the board and some fans that no one player is bigger than the club, and yet they wonder why they are not competitive in Europe and contending for the English crown every year.
Makes you think sometimes, doesn’t it?
This writer isn’t sure if it’s a case of Arsenal being stubborn and steadfast and relying on their traditional arrogance of being able to find a replacement for a player the quality of Sanchez, in younger and cheaper no-names, but Arsenal needs to do a better job of actually signing their own to long-term deals, instead of seeing them go off to the likes of hated rivals such as Manchester United and Chelsea.
While not a rival like the aforementioned Blues or red Devils, but seeing Sanchez in a Champions league-contending Manchester City stripe, would be the equivalent of a kick to the proverbial groin for Gooners, especially if Arsenal declines to retain the Chilean import.
While long-time boss Arsene Wenger recently re-upped for another two years, and Arsenal rumored to be in the market for Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez, Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe shortly after signing Sead Kolasinac, formerly of Schalke on a free transfer.
What such moves mean for the likes of Nacho Monreal, Kieran Gibbs, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud remain to be seen, but it would be in Arsenal’s best interest to try and retain the services of Sanchez, while bolster the club with quality midfielders and perhaps another world-class striker would help them return to their proper and rightful place place in the Champions League and as one of the top clubs in all of Europe.