Arsenal News: Alexis Sanchez will join Real Madrid if assured about Karim Benzema - report

ARSENAL star Alexis Sanchez will join Real Madrid if he is assured a spot in Zinedine Zidane’s side over Karim Benzema, reports say.

Simon Jordan: Alexis Sanchez will leave Arsenal but in right way

Arsenal nearly lost Sanchez in the summer with Manchester City close to signing the Chile international on transfer deadline day.

However, the Gunners’ failure to convince Monaco winger Thomas Lemar to sign on as his replacement ultimately saw Sanchez stay put.

Despite that, it still looks as if he will leave with his contract expiring in July - meaning he is free to negotiate with foreign clubs in January.

And Spanish outlet Don Balon say that, despite City’s interest, Sanchez is actually in favour of a return to Spain with Real Madrid.

Arsenal News: Alexis Sanchez is open to joining Real Madrid this summer

Los Blancos have started the season inconsistently, winning both the Spanish and European Super Cups but drawing two of their first three La Liga games.

It comes after a summer of relative quiet at the Bernabeu, where Real managed to sign just Dani Ceballos and Theo Hernandez despite seeing Alvaro Morata, Pepe and James Rodriguez depart.

Yet Don Balon say Florentino Perez has already been in contact with Sanchez to persuade him to move to Los Blancos in January.

There, they feel, Arsenal will be willing to take a reduced fee in order to prevent losing him for nothing next summer. 

Sanchez himself is said to be ‘crazy’ to leave the Emirates for a return to Spain, particularly with Real.

Arsenal News Alexis Sanchez Real MadridGETTY

Arsenal News: Alexis Sanchez is willing to join Real Madrid

Arsenal News Alexis Sanchez Real MadridGETTY

Arsenal News: Alexis Sanchez wants Karim Benzema assurance at Real Madrid

And that is despite the fact he previously played for their fierce rivals Barcelona.

However, much may depend on what role he is assured of. 

Zidane is known to favour just one No9 and, more often than not, that man is Karim Benzema.

Benzema’s form has waned considerably in recent years but still Zidane picks him - something that led Morata to join Chelsea.

And Sanchez will supposedly only join if he is assured he will be above the France international in the pecking order. 

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