Arsenal are reportedly prepared to offload star forward Alexis Sanchez at the end of the current campaign. The Chilean’s current deal at the Emirates is due to expire in the summer of 2018.
Sanchez, 28, has been in a contract standoff with the north London giants since the back end of last season with the club reluctant to accept to his demands of a significant increase on his £130,000-a-week wages.
The Chilean had cut a frustrated figure following the 5-1 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in February, and this forced manager Arsene Wenger to start him from the bench for the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool – owing to his poor behaviour in training.
He was later caught laughing on screen when his side were thumped by a similar 5-1 scoreline by Bayern at the Emirates, and this has sort of split his relationship with his teammates.
According to Spanish outlet Don Balon, the FA Cup semi-finalists have given up all hope of keeping hold of their main man, and are prepared to offload him to a top European rival in the summer.
The Gunners have held a long-term interest in Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, and they are willing to offer Sanchez to the European champions in a swap deal to lure the Frenchman to the Emirates.
Benzema has never been a fan favourite at the Bernabeu, but he still remains a key part of Zinedine Zidane’s plans with suggestions of a new contract roaming around.
Nevertheless, Arsene Wenger’s side are determined to sell Sanchez to a club outside their domestic competition with Atletico Madrid also credited with an interest in the attacker.
Sanchez has amassed 21 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Arsenal this season – his best return in the Gunners’ shirt since arriving from Barcelona for £35m in the summer of 2014.
