A shocking domino effect could finally see Manchester City snap up Arsenal ace Alexis Sanchez’s signature.
Pep Guardiola could finally have the man that he’s been chasing all summer. As reported by The Mirror, the chain of events would begin with Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend making his way to 2015/16 Premier League champions Leicester City, as the two clubs are in talks of finalizing a whopping £27 million deal for the Englishman.
Leicester have suffered two league defeats in the opening three weeks of the campaign, and with Riyad Mahrez seemingly a shadow of his 2015/16 self, the Foxes are looking to sell the Moroccan to Arsenal, should Townsend’s deal come to fruition.
And when the Gunners welcome Mahrez to the Emirates, Arsene Wenger might be lured into thinking that he has enough attacking arsenal in his squad to sell Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City, considering the staggering amount of money that the Citizens are willing to pay for the Chilean.
Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare has given up on persuading Mahrez to stay at the King Power Stadium, but Arsenal are not the only club showing interest in the 26-year old, as Italian club AS Roma are also in the hunt.
Sanchez reportedly refused to sign a new £300,000-a-week contract with the Gunners, and has made very clear that he intends to leave the club, despite Wenger being adamant that the talisman will stay.
Crystal Palace and Leicester City are expected to seal Townsend’s deal in the next 24 hours, which would pave the way for Mahrez to join Arsenal, and the ultimate injection of ruthlessness in Manchester City’s attack could then arrive in the form of Alexis Sanchez in the closing stages of the transfer window.
However, City seem to be the only winners in these turn of events. Leicester City might argue that they’re getting the better end of the deal, but it looks more like a hurried move rather than an intelligent one.
With Mesut Ozil’s future still uncertain at Arsenal, Wenger is probably thinking a step ahead, as signing Mahrez would mean Arsenal’s central midfield will not be left evacuated should Ozil depart as well.
But Pep Guardiola and Manchester City will be all set and in readiness to splurge the £50million for Sanchez, which could arguably make them the deadliest attacking team in Europe after Real Madrid.
