Arsenal ready to sell Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City despite rejecting £50m bid... and Raheem Sterling part-exchange option is discussed at the Gunners' request
- Arsenal rejected a £50m bid from Manchester City for Alexis Sanchez
- Sanchez's Arsenal contract is winding down and he is desperate to join City
- Raheem Sterling's part in the deal was put in at the Gunner's behest
Arsenal are set to make a dramatic U-turn and allow Alexis Sanchez to join Manchester City.
The bidding started on Tuesday night, with the Gunners turning down a £50million cash offer from City for the Chilean. In a fiery meeting between boss Arsene Wenger and his coaching staff following the 4-0 drubbing at Liverpool, it was agreed that players who want to leave the Emirates should be allowed to do so.
But it will take a much better offer from City to land the forward, possibly a mega swap which would see England winger Raheem Sterling move in the opposite direction.
Arsenal rejected a £50million bid from Manchester City for Alexis Sanchez
City are determined to sign Sanchez with Raheem Sterling possibly going the other way
The manager, who is under intense pressure after two defeats in three games this season, led a heated meeting with his coaching staff at the club’s training HQ.
It was concluded that it would be best to sell players who have made it clear they want to leave, providing interested parties meet their valuation.
Chelsea have already had a £35m offer for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain accepted by the Gunners, though that move has stalled. And Arsenal are now ready to negotiate with City over a mega deal for Sanchez.
City want a straight cash deal for the former Barcelona star. However, Arsenal would much prefer a player-plus-cash offer and have their sights on Raheem Sterling.
Arsene Wenger has decided it's best to sell players who have made it clear they want to leave
Arsenal will have very little time to sign a replacement for Sanchez if Sterling isn’t part of the transfer, but a bid in excess of £70m — a huge amount given Sanchez can leave for nothing next summer — may persuade them.
Sterling is open to a move to the Emirates. The 22-year-old grew up in London and in a World Cup year, knows regular first-team football would be readily available at Arsenal. But City manager Pep Guardiola is reluctant to let the forward go following his two goals in City’s opening three Premier League games.
Arsenal would much prefer a player-plus cash offer and have their sights on Sterling
Pep Guardiola (left) is understood to be reluctant to include Sterling (right) in the deal
Some of Sanchez’s team-mates believe the uncertainty over his future is destabilising the dressing room. And there have been concerns over his effort in training and matches from coaches over the past six months.
It is understood Sanchez has told Chile boss Juan Antonio Pizzi he would like to sit out their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Thursday so he can sort out his future.
City, who are set to sell midfielder Fabian Delph to Stoke, remain in pole position to land West Bromwich Albion captain Jonny Evans, despite Arsenal joining the race for the centre back. West Brom are also set to sign Kieran Gibbs from the Gunners in a deal worth £6m.
And Inter Milan have made a new offer to Arsenal for German centre back Shkodran Mustafi, offering a £4.6m loan fee with an option to buy for £23m.
Sanchez has asked to leave the Chile national team camp in order to sort out his club future
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