According to latest reports, Ligue1 side AS Monaco is all set to table a bid for Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez as they look to use it as a leverage for Gunners’ immense interest in Thomas Lemar. Following their title-winning campaign, Monaco had to part ways with many of their talents and aren’t willing to let go of another without any significant return.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has repeated time and again that he sees Alexis Sanchez as a major part of his grand plan in the upcoming season and is under no condition willing to let go of him this summer. The French gaffer had earlier stressed on the developing trend of clubs holding on to their star players despite knowing they have to let them go for free in a year’s time.
Red Bull Leipzig’s Naby Keita is another such example whom Premier League side Liverpool have tried their heart and soul to get, but have failed. The Bundesliga side is aware of the loss they could incur but they don’t want to leave one of their best players in their Champions League season.
Sanchez and Arsenal have a similar scenario, where Wenger goes into what could be his penultimate season, as he risks destroying his legacy if he fails to land a significant silverware yet again.
It is a make or break season for the 67-year-old and he wants to keep his best weapons in the closet. That being said, Arsenal are in need of one more midfielder as the participation of the likes of Jack Wilshere and Santiago Cazorla this season remains a doubt. Their recurring injury concerns have been a huge conundrum for the manager and he wouldn’t want to keep all his eggs in one basket.
Wenger will definitely go for yet another player before the transfer period ends and with earlier reports claiming that Lemar has already agreed to personal terms with the North London club, Arsenal are more likely to play the waiting game now. However, this remains a difficult situation from Monaco’s perspective too.
The French side had to part ways with last season’s stars like Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy to Premier League giants Manchester City and Tiemoue Bakayoko to Chelsea. They have a lot of money in their bank as they garnered nearly £150 million from sales.
And if reports of Real Madrid’s strong pursuit of Kylian Mbappe is true, then Leonardo Jardim could see another massive fee of around of £160 million coming in, which makes Sanchez an easy buy. But will Arsenal sell him as a part of the deal for Lemar?
