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Alexit Strategy

PSG will use Neymar to lure Alexis Sanchez to the Ligue 1 club and sell Edinson Cavani to get around FFP

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN plan to snatch Alexis Sanchez on a free next summer — but will not pay for him in January.

The French giants want the Arsenal striker to replace Edinson Cavani next season.

And they are convinced Sanchez’s friendship with former Barcelona team-mate Neymar will help to seal the deal.

 Alexis Sanchez and Neymar are pals and have been since their time together at Barcelona
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Alexis Sanchez and Neymar are pals and have been since their time together at BarcelonaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Sanchez, 28, is in the final year of his Gunners deal and has made it clear he will not be signing a new one.

Boss Arsene Wenger was ready to sell him to Manchester City for £60million on transfer deadline day.

But he changed his mind when he was unable to get Raheem Sterling as part of the deal.

City are ready to try again in January but will only offer £20million and Arsenal would prefer not to sell to a direct Premier League rival.

 Edinson Cavani has been on international duty with Uruguay but has had a high-profile tiff with Neymar at PSG
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Edinson Cavani has been on international duty with Uruguay but has had a high-profile tiff with Neymar at PSGCredit: Reuters
 Neymar has been training with the Brazil national team ahead of the World Cup qualifiers
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Neymar has been training with the Brazil national team ahead of the World Cup qualifiersCredit: AFP

But PSG, who are struggling to stay within Uefa’s financial fair play rules having signed Neymar for a world record £198m, are not prepared to pay for a player who will become a free agent next summer.

Coach Unai Emery’s hopes of adding Sanchez to his ranks went on the back burner when PSG took Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe on loan with a guaranteed £162m transfer fee next year.

Now PSG believe they can get around their FFP problem by selling Cavani, who has had a bitter clash with Neymar, and bringing in Sanchez for nothing.

Wenger has decided Sanchez should see out the rest of his contract at Arsenal and will not countenance selling him in January if his team are in the title race.

 Alexis Sanchez juggles a football with the Chilean national team
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Alexis Sanchez juggles a football with the Chilean national teamCredit: AP:Associated Press

But with Mesut Ozil also running down his contract, some on the Arsenal board are unhappy at the prospect of losing two of the club’s biggest signings for nothing.

NEYM YOUR PRICE Neymar 'included Alexis Sanchez in list of demands when signing for PSG'

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