Alexis Sanchez may not be an Arsenal player post 11 pm BST on deadline day in the summer transfer window
If deadline days of the past windows are anything to go by, the 31st of August 2017 is set to be a frenetic roller-coaster ride. Clubs often leave their transfer activities until the very last day, while certain players too, suddenly have a change of heart, and decide that the time has come for a new challenge in their career.
One such player is Alexis Sanchez. It would be a blatant lie to say Sanchez’s decision to move has been instantaneous as the Chilean has been linked with an exit from Arsenal for several months. In all fairness to the player, after competing against Europe’s elite and challenging for the league every year at Barcelona, he’s failed to either of the two in London, and he feels that his ambition and that of the club are not on par.
In the final year of his contract, Sanchez has come no close to signing an extension at Emirates. It could be a reality that one of the best players in England moves to Gunners’ top four rivals on a free transfer next summer, something which will not please the owners one bit. Thus, despite Arsene Wenger’s reluctance to let go of the coveted South American forward, he could be forced into cashing in on deadline day.
The Hard Tackle looks are three potential destinations for Sanchez post the 31st of August:
1. Staying on at Arsenal (50 percent chances of happening)
Sanchez does not want to stay on at Arsenal, but will be obligated to if the Gunners fail to reach an agreement with another club for his services. Wenger knows that even if the Chilean doesn’t make a move today, he will continue to give his best for the North London club and bow out as one of the best players to ever have represented them.
The 28-year-old’s move appears to hinge on Arsenal’s transfer for AS Monaco winger Thomas Lemar. Wenger sees the left winger as a long-term replacement for Sanchez, and is ready to break Arsenal’s transfer record in order to bring him through the door.
Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail believes Arsenal have now made a take it or leave it £90 million bid for the Monaco star, and his arrival could pave the way for Sanchez’s exit. Funnily, Sanchez is actually valued at almost half the amount by the Arsenal hierarchy, and Wenger may finally loosen the purse strings to prove why he deserves to stay on as Gunners boss.
However, time is seeming to run out with only under nine hours left for the window to slam shut. Also, Sanchez is away on international duty with Chile, so it will undoubtedly take all three parties that added bit of time to get the paperwork done.
2. Moving to Manchester City (45 percent chances of happening)
Lauded as one of the best managers in the world, Pep Guardiola endured a rough first year in England as he failed to win a single trophy with Manchester City. Despite having a plethora of funds at his disposal, his side struggled until the very end to finish in the top four.
This season too, City have spent a colossal amount in the summer, but have not enjoyed the best of starts to the season. Thus, Guardiola believes that another attacking option could help the Citizens challenge for the title, and Alexis Sanchez appears to be his prime deadline day target.
The former Barcelona boss shares a good relationship with the Chilean back during their time at the Camp Nou, and a chance to play in the Champions League and challenge for the title, may be sufficient for Sanchez to move to the Etihad.
Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solehkol believes that City have made a £55 million offer for Sanchez, and could offer an additional £5 million in add ons. This bid is understood to meet Arsenal’s valuation of the player, and should Lemar walk through the door, Sanchez will be on his way out.
3. Moving to Manchester United (5 percent chances of happening)
The least likely of the potential destinations is Old Trafford, Manchester, but knowing the unpredictable nature of the transfer market, Manchester United could sweep in with a late bid for the Chilean, even though they aren’t expected to make anymore buys this summer.
It is no secret that Jose Mourinho has been looking for a left sided attacking midfielder all summer, with names such as Ivan Perisic and Thomas Lemar constantly being linked with moves to Old Trafford. Similarly, Sanchez was a reported target once upon a time for the United manager, and he could capitalise on the player’s desire to move.
That being said, Mourinho isn’t the type to leave his transfer business this late, and if he hasn’t made any formal bids for the player, it would take something out of the blue for him to change his mind and sign Sanchez on deadline day.
