Monaco set to test Arsenal resolve with £45million bid for contract rebel Alexis Sanchez
French champions are ready to offer Arsene Wenger of avoiding losing the Chilean on a free next year
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FRENCH champions Monaco are ready to test Arsenal’s resolve by making a £45m bid for wantaway Alexis Sanchez.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has insisted he expects the Chilean superstar to see out the final year of his Gunners contract and that he will NOT be sold.
But Monaco will seek to offer Wenger a way to avoid losing Sanchez for nothing next summer.
And the French side will use Wenger’s interest in midfielder Thomas Lemar to try to tempt the Gunners chief into relenting on his Sanchez stance.
Monaco have raked in nearly £150m in transfer fees already this summer with departures including Manchester City duo Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy and Chelsea recruit Tiemoue Bakayoko.
The French side also expect to lose teenage ace Kylian Mbappe for around £160m with Real Madrid determined to land the youngster, but are keen to make a marquee signing of their own.
And Monaco feel they could provide the Chilean with the financial package and challenge that he would accept for at least this season ahead of the World Cup in Russia next summer.
Boss Leonardo Jardim feels Manchester City target Sanchez can add steel and experience to his team and can offer a tax free salary of around £300k per week as well as the lure of the Monte Carlo lifestyle.
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Arsenal have so far had two bids for Lemar rejected but Wenger remains keen to land him, while Jardim has admitted he cannot guarantee the player will not leave.
Wenger insisted former Barcelona star Sanchez would not be sold this summer.
And the Frenchman claimed Sanchez would accept his "clear decision".
And after the Chilean took part in an open training session at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, Wenger said: “My decision is clear, he will stay. He will accept that.
“The frame of mind of a footballer is quite easy – once you go out into the game, you focus on that. (He is) good, you can see it in training.
“He needs to work on his fitness but he is sharp and looks like he has never been away.
“I think he will be here for this season. If we manage to do it for more seasons we will.”