The Alexis Sanchez saga has another new story as another possibility regarding his replacement has spurned out long after the transfer window has closed. It is no secret that Arsenal have failed to tie down their prized asset to a new contract and Sanchez come the end of this 2017-18 season will come to the end of his contract and will be free to move on to any club of his choice as a free agent.
Despite the fear of losing such an asset on a free transfer, in a surprising turn of events, Wenger has chosen to not move the player on but to keep him for another season to help Arsenal win silverware.
A host of top European clubs have been linked with the Chilean winger whose impressive form has made him a top-target for them. The likes of PSG, Manchester City, and Chelsea have all been linked to him at one point or another during the summer. Sanchez was reportedly close to a deadline day move to domestic rivals Manchester City before Arsenal made an U-turn on the deal and chose to keep him instead.
Latest reports coming out of The Emirates claim that Gunners boss is ready to cut his losses and will move on Sanchez for as little as £20m in January and look to bring in Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez to the club as a replacement for the want-away Chilean.
Barcelona and Roma were keen on the Algerian winger but failed to meet Leicester’s asking price. It is now being reported that Tottenham Hotspur are likely to rival the Gunners for the winger. As a result, a £30m battle is set to ensue between the north London clubs.
Leicester City has changed their stance on the winger leaving will be accepting of his departure should their reduced asking price be met. It is believed that Craig Shakespeare wants to bolster his squad to fight in the Premier League and feels that the budget coming from the sale of Mahrez would help him land new signings.
As for the player himself, Mahrez is keen on a move to The Emirates and if Sanchez leaves the onus of attacking football from the wings is likely to fall on him. He will directly walk into the side that will be desperate for some creativity from the wings in the absence of Sanchez and Mahrez’s sleek style of dribbling football and prior experience of being the best in the league will make the 2015-16 PFA Player of the Year, a valuable addition to the team.
