Manchester City face a race against the clock on deadline day as Pep Guardiola chases deals for Alexis Sanchez and Jonny Evans

  • Manchester City's bids for Alexis Sanchez and Jonny Evans hang in the balance
  • Pep Guardiola wants to offload misfit French centre back Eliaquim Mangala
  • City's chiefs are in South America waiting for a deal to be struck for Sanchez 

Manchester City believe they will capture Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez on Thursday.

Club representatives are in Santiago ahead of Chile's World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Thursday night in readiness to rush through a deadline-day deal.

Gunners' manager Arsene Wenger is willing to sell the Chilean, but has rejected an opening bid of £50million. 

Manchester City are preparing a fresh £70million bid for Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez

Manchester City are preparing a fresh £70million bid for Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez

City, who held talks with Arsenal on Wednesday, are likely to have to pay closer to £70m. 


Raheem Sterling was originally considered to be part of the deal in exchange for Sanchez, but City must now pay cash only.

City are still also hopeful of sealing a deal for West Brom defender Jonny Evans, 29, but need their France defender Eliaquim Mangala, 26, to agree to a loan switch to the Hawthorns to push the move through.

Evans is currently in Manchester with the Northern Ireland party, who fly to San Marino on Thursday morning for Friday's World Cup qualifier.

Jonny Evans has expressed an interest in joining Manchester City from West Bromwich Albion

Jonny Evans has expressed an interest in joining Manchester City from West Bromwich Albion

But that would not stop him having a City medical ahead of a deal. 

City need to offload the France international if they are to strengthen at the back, which could leave a deal for Evans in tatters, while they are set to make one last push for Sanchez.

Sanchez has made his desire to join Pep Guardiola's side known all summer and Wenger realises the possible disharmony the 28-year-old could spread should he see out the final months of his contract.

Pep Guardiola is keen to bolster his squad ahead of the closure of the transfer window

Pep Guardiola is keen to bolster his squad ahead of the closure of the transfer window

Evans could undergo a medical at the City Football Academy, where Northern Ireland have trained this week, before joining up with his international team-mates later on via a charter aircraft.

That largely rests on Mangala, however, who saw interest from Inter Milan extinguish on Wednesday and wavered over West Brom.

Evans' preference is a switch to City but Pep Guardiola needs to offload Mangala if he is to bring a new face on deadline day. 

A failure to do so could leave Arsenal clear to land Evans, who Wenger has admired for the last two years.

City are hoping to offload Eliaquim Mangala but he is reluctant to join West Brom

City are hoping to offload Eliaquim Mangala but he is reluctant to join West Brom

The Gunners have had a £25m bid rejected for the former Manchester United man, while Leicester's offer of the same amount was also knocked back.

Michael O'Neill would prefer to have his captain on the plane ahead of the crucial qualifier but admitted Northern Ireland would help any club looking to buy Evans.

'Should a club agree terms or should a transfer come to fruition then we'll facilitate it in the best way possible,' O'Neill said. 

'But also the club do it in such a way that is least disruptive to ourselves.

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill is happy to co-operate over Jonny Evans' future

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill is happy to co-operate over Jonny Evans' future

'Equally we're not in a position to turn around and say to a player 'he can't leave, he can't do that'. It's his career that is at stake.'

Meanwhile, Fabian Delph is set to remain at the Etihad Stadium after snubbing Stoke, while Jason Denayer is heading for Galatasaray on loan. 

Swansea City hope to tie up a £13m transfer for Wilfried Bony before the 11pm deadline, but Verona have asked for the striker on loan.

Sunderland want to sign young central defender Tosin Adarabioyo on loan. 

Fabian Delph is set to remain at the Etihad Stadium after snubbing a move to Stoke

Fabian Delph is set to remain at the Etihad Stadium after snubbing a move to Stoke

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