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GUNNERS IN CRISIS

Alexis Sanchez could leave Arsenal for Man City while Granit Xhaka will join Shkodran Mustafi on the scrapheap

MANCHESTER CITY will make a fresh £60million bid for Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal face deadline-day meltdown.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is already heading to Liverpool for £40m, though the Gunners plan to hijack City’s bid for West Brom’s Jonny Evans.

 Alexis Sanchez could leave Arsenal for Man City on transfer deadline day
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Alexis Sanchez could leave Arsenal for Man City on transfer deadline dayCredit: Getty
 Granit Xhaka is set to be cast aside as Wenger's patience runs out
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Granit Xhaka is set to be cast aside as Wenger's patience runs outCredit: AFP or licensors

But the stampede out of the Emirates is likely to continue with boss Arsene Wenger swinging the axe and admitting making a £90m triple blunder with last summer’s deals.

That could see Granit Xhaka, Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez — plus Calum Chambers — on the Emirates scrapheap, all after Kieran Gibbs moved to West Brom in a £7m deal.

City chiefs will table another straight cash offer for Sanchez just 24 hours after their first £50m bid was rejected.

Defender Evans, 29, seems set to join Arsenal for £30m.

But losing Sanchez, 28, will be a hammer blow to Gunners fans after Wenger vowed he would not let him quit and preferred to let the South American run down the final year of his contract.

Now the Gunners boss is facing up to the inevitable and City officials have flown to Chile ready for Sanchez’s medical.

 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on the verge of a move to Liverpool
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on the verge of a move to LiverpoolCredit: PA:Press Association
 A furious Arsene Wenger is ready to give his midfield an overhaul
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A furious Arsene Wenger is ready to give his midfield an overhaulCredit: Rex Features

Etihad chiefs remain adamant they are only interested in a cash deal and that Arsenal proposed either Raheem Sterling or Sergio Aguero moving in part-exchange.

Ox turned his back on Chelsea to join Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield side on a five-year deal worth £120,000 a week — £60,000 a week LESS than he was offered to stay at Arsenal.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, was having his Liverpool medical at England’s St George’s Park HQ last night before travelling with the Three Lions for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier in Malta.

Klopp told Oxlade-Chamberlain he wants him at the heart of his team in central midfield while Antonio Conte hoped to use the versatile star as a wing-back at champions Chelsea.

 Kieran Gibbs left Arsenal for West Brom on Wednesday
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Kieran Gibbs left Arsenal for West Brom on WednesdayCredit: Getty
 Xhaka has proven to be a flop at Arsenal after signing for £30m last summer
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Xhaka has proven to be a flop at Arsenal after signing for £30m last summerCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Wenger has targeted Jean Michael Seri to give his midfield a boost
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Wenger has targeted Jean Michael Seri to give his midfield a boostCredit: AFP - Getty

SunSport understands Wenger has finally accepted his midfield needs a major overhaul after Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing at Liverpool with last summer’s three major signings all on their way out.

Xhaka, who cost £38.25m from Borussia Monchengladbach, is the highest-profile casualty after the furious Arsenal boss’ patience snapped in the aftermath of his side’s Anfield drubbing.

 Mustafi is also a casualty of Wenger's clear-out but the Arsenal boss is holding out for £30m
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Mustafi is also a casualty of Wenger's clear-out but the Arsenal boss is holding out for £30mCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Thursday's Arsenal exodus back page echoes The Sun’s iconic front page of April 9, 1992 which helped swing the General Election in favour of the Tories
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Thursday's Arsenal exodus back page echoes The Sun’s iconic front page of April 9, 1992 which helped swing the General Election in favour of the Tories

Swiss star Xhaka was ridiculed for trying a crazy back-heel in his own penalty area and was at fault for Roberto Firmino’s opener.

Wenger also accepts Mustafi’s time is already up, barely a year after signing the German defender from Valencia for £34.85m.

Perez, a £17m signing from Deportivo La Coruna a year ago, has scored just once and is set for a loan back to the Spaniards.

Wenger also has his eyes on Leicester’s Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez and Nice’s £40m-rated midfielder Jean Michael Seri.



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