As the transfer saga surrounding Alexis Sanchez stretches further and further, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the Arsenal forward will sign a new contract at the Emirates. Considering that losing the Chilean on a free transfer next summer is a financial loss that would be too much for the North London club to take, the logical thing would be to sell him, preferably to a club abroad, and sign a replacement.
According to the reliable Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph, the Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is simultaneously working on deals for as many as three players as he plans a raid on the French top flight, with Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette and Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar all being targetted for a potential move to the Emirates.
Should this story be true, which is likely considering the source, Alexis is certainly leaving this summer. Surely, Arsenal would not need as many as three additions to the front-line if the diminutive Chilean will be staying at the club. Right now, the only forward who I can see leaving the club, apart from Sanchez, is Lucas Perez and the Spaniard’s departure will not exactly leave a big void to fill at the Emirates.
Perhaps the club are trying to announce new signings (not necessarily the above mentioned trio) before they can sanction the transfer of Alexis due to the fear of the backlash from Arsenal fans. Surely, the Gunners faithful will go berserk if the club’s talisman is sold without a replacement in sight, and I think that Arsenal are desperately trying to avoid that situation.
Quite honestly, I do not think Mbappe will join. We’d rather sign Lacazette as an upgrade to Perez and keep Sanchez even if he does not sign a new contract. A club with ambition simply cannot lose its best player, especially not to a local rival. But the way things are going, I must admit that it does not look good for the Gunners, at least with respect to our chances of keeping our diminutive Chilean talisman.
AT