Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could be tempted by the prospect of selling Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City prior to the August 31 deadline.
The Chile international has just 10 months left on his present deal with the Gunners, but Wenger has stressed that the attacker won’t be sold during the transfer window.
According to The Independent, Pep Guardiola’s side are planning a ‘final take or leave’ offer worth £70m as they seek to prise him away from the Emirates.
Initially, the Citizens were hoping to agree on a fee of £40m for the Gunners contract rebel, but Wenger’s stance of not selling appears to have increased their valuation ahead of next Thursday’s transfer deadline.
Sanchez has shown no signs of extending his contract beyond the summer of 2018, and it is suggested that a figure in excess of £70m could be hard to turn down for the Frenchman.
The 28-year-old has missed the last two weeks of first-team action with an abdominal strain but he is likely to return to league action when the Gunners visit Liverpool on Sunday.
The Reds have come through a midweek triumph over Hoffenheim in the Champions League playoff, and Wenger will hope to take advantage of any fatigue in order to clinch the first win in five years at Anfield.
Meanwhile, there has not been any movement in terms of incoming transfers with the pursuit of Thomas Lemar put on hold due to AS Monaco’s reluctance to come to terms with the asking price for the France international.
