Weighing Up Whether Alexis Sanchez Will Leave Arsenal

Weighing Up Whether Alexis Sanchez Will Leave Arsenal

The saga surrounding Alexis Sanchez has been dragging on all year, and there is no sign of a resolution.

The Chilean forward has spoken of his desire for Champions League football, and Arsenal face a tough battle to keep him in north London.

They have been trying to convince him to pen a new deal since December, yet here we are—seven months on—with no evidence he wants to stay.

Both Manchester City and PSG are firmly in the picture to offer an escape route from the Emirates and, from speaking to sources close to the situation, my understanding is that Sanchez has a genuine aim to sign for Pep Guardiola.

It's an intriguing situation that poses a huge problem for Arsenal, so I have been delving into the big factors that will play a part in whether Sanchez remains a Gunner.

Moving to Man City?

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Sanchez is on his summer break but is due back at Arsenal by July 31, and that is when things could get interesting.

All indications from the player's camp declare that he is ready to leave, but will he make that clear to Arsene Wenger?

Sanchez appeared to hint to how he views his future as he spoke about his desire for Champions League football, but Arsenal believe the quotes were blown out of proportion.

There is no doubt he is considering his future, and the prospect of linking up with Man City seems a realistic proposition.

When Guardiola arrived in Manchester last year, it is understood he told club bosses that Sanchez was one of the A-list names he would love to sign.

But City will only make an offer if they are certain the player is willing to push hard to make the switch happen.

Let's Talk About the Money

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If the signals suggest a deal is possible, then City are prepared to begin the bidding at £50 million to land Alexis.

With one year remaining on his contract, that would seem a fair offer—even in this market—but Arsenal have their own ideas.

With the player not for sale, sources have indicated that even £50 million would not be enough to land him at this stage. But if they have to sell? Information from around the club suggests it would take closer to £70 million so they could replace him.

As far as the Gunners are concerned, this is currently a non-story. They think he will remain an Arsenal player, and that will give them one more opportunity to talk him into an extended stay.

They have their own offer ready. Arsenal are willing to pay Sanchez £275,000 a week, with a promise of increasing that salary by £55,000 a week for the following season if they qualify for the Champions League.

In the last round of talks, Sanchez's representatives made it clear he was looking for around £300,000 a week to stay, so Arsenal's proposal does not seem unreasonable.

Arsenal's Big Gamble

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The official stance coming out of Arsenal is that a decision has been made within the corridors of power and no offer will tempt them to change their minds. Alexis will not be sold.

But the contract situation means it cannot be as simple as that. It would hurt them to see him leave for nothing a year from now, and he would be free to speak to other clubs from January as his contract begins to wind down.

While Arsenal's position on this is admirable, is it realistic? We have heard it all before, and they have crumbled before. Take Robin van Persie joining Manchester United in 2012, for example.

Sources close to the player remain convinced that a move to Manchester City is not impossible, as Arsenal club officials are so driven by financial figures.

It would be a struggle to deal with the prospect of losing such a highly rated player next year for nothing.

The Lure of Paris

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Bayern Munich's interest seems to have waned, but a move to France could yet prove possible.

PSG sporting director Antero Henrique is the man tasked with pursuing Sanchez, and he has made contact over a potential offer, as explained by Jason Burt of the Telegraph.

At a time when PSG are serious about trying to sign Neymar, it is also certain that a deal for Alexis remains a key component of their current transfer planning.

Part of PSG's selling point is that they are a club going places. In talks with prospective signings, they make it clear that big-name players will not be leaving anytime soon. They are making serious offers for the best players in the game, and there is a genuine belief they will soon win the Champions League for the first time.

But sources have indicated that Alexis is torn over the prospect of a switch to France.

On one hand, they offer a perfect fit for his European trophy ambitions; on the other, he realises the weekly fixtures in Ligue 1 are not on the same level he currently competes.

A Gunner or a Goner?

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There is a genuine chance Sanchez will leave Arsenal this summer.

The player has set his heart on linking up with Guardiola at Manchester City, and when a player becomes distracted and changes focus, it can easily lead to a transfer.

Arsenal would much rather he left for foreign shores and are determined not to sell to City—so this will be an intriguing few weeks.

PSG are in the frame, but signs from the player have been that he would rather not head to another country.

There is still an ambition to achieve all of the things in England he hoped would have been possible when he signed for the Gunners three years ago. Sanchez turns 29 in December and knows this is a key moment in his career.

If he gets his way, he'll soon be wearing a City shirt.