Editors Note: Due to the tricky and often false nature of EPL transfer window rumors, this article falls upon the self-imposed Gonzalo Higuain Rule, named after current Juventus’ Argentine striker and one-time Arsenal target, Gonzalo Higuain.
Higuain, who was rumored to have “signed” for Arsenal by multiple media outlets before going to Napoli in 2013. Until said player has officially taken his medical and an image of them is posted on said club’s site, the Gonzalo Higuain Rule is in effect, and every rumor is treated as pure speculation.
With transfer window rumors heating up stating that AS Monaco striker Thomas Lemar has agreed to “personal terms” with Arsenal, could the Gunners welcome their second French import in as many days, while seeing Alexis Sanchez bolt for the Ethidad?
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, right?
Arsenal, who are not known to spend via the transfer window so liberally, are poised to make a reported third bid north of £40 per ESPN FC. With Monaco holding out for £80 million for Lemar, it wouldn’t shock me if Arsenal goes for broke and shatters their recently-shattered club transfer mark of £52.7 million for recently-signed Alexandre Lacazette last week.
With Arsenal not playing in Champions League this coming season, and the need to get back into the top four and win the EPL crown, look for the Gunners to be more frivolously in splashing out cash to transfer window targets.
So, with the likelihood of Lemar coming to the N5, could Alexis Sanchez be on his way up north to Manchester City?
As I stated above, I will abide by the Gonzalo Higuain rule until I see Sanchez holding up that god-awful Nike-made sky-blue City kit of theirs. Even though rumblings out of London are that he has supposedly made his final decision, unless City pony up the £80m that Arsenal have valued the Chilean at, I will advise that all Gooners take this with a grain of salt.
While some of my fellow Gooners are already cursing Alexis as if he is Robin van Persie 2.0, let’s not forget that he did drop 24 goals in 38 caps for Arsenal and net 53 in 103 total caps in all competitions. If I’m a betting man, Arsenal is calling City’s bluff right now, daring them to pay the £80 ransom to take Alexis off of their hands.
If City does in fact swoop in for Alexis, Arsenal could then use that fresh set of dosh to land Lemar, and suddenly Arsenal will have one of the richest attacking fronts in all of football led by the forementioned Lemar, Lacazaette, Mesut Ozil and possibly Sanchez—if he does end up staying—and begin their rise back to the top of English soccer.