Arsenal could reportedly be prepared to offload Alexis Sanchez to Bayern Munich with Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema being identified as a suitable replacement.
Sanchez, who is currently on a £130,000 weekly package, has been in a contract standoff with the Gunners since the backend of the previous season with the club’s hierarchy unwilling to match his demands for a £250,000-a-week plus deal.
The Chilean has been linked with potential moves to Chelsea and Bayern Munich over the past couple of days, but according to Don Balon, it is the latter who are favourites to sign the forward – who has just 15 months left on his Gunners contract.
Don Balon also suggests that the north London club will, in turn, revive their long-term pursuit of Karim Benzema, who could be leaving the Bernabeu in the summer following an average season by his standards.
Benzema who will cost around £52 million(as per Metro), has become a favourite under Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane, but he could still be sold against the manager’s wishes with president Florentino Perez looking to push Cristiano Ronaldo into a more central role next season.
The European champions will also make their move for unsettled Bayern star Douglas Costa in the summer in order to compensate for the departure of Benzema in their already star-studded squad.
Sanchez has had his best campaign in a Gunners shirt this term with 22 goals and 14 assists across all competitions, but his reluctance to extend terms will eventually urge the club to cash in on his signature during the summer transfer window.
Arsenal are expected to place a price tag of around £50m on Sanchez this summer as they seek to make the most of his potential exit by bringing in a couple of attacking recruits to their ranks.
Meanwhile, a move for Benzema will definitely raise questions over the club’s ambition with the Frenchman often deemed to be an improved version of Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud – who has benefited featuring alongside the world’s best at the Bernabeu.
