Despite the fact that the Arsenal and Chile international forward has spoken to the football press about his desire and need to be playing in the Champions League and thereby making it clear that he wants a transfer away from the Gunners this summer, Arsene Wenger appears to be standing firm to his declared stance of not selling the striker.
This has impressed a lot of Arsenal fans and made them think that we have a different type of Wenger in charge. The way that Arsenal has been run since the takeover by silent Stan Kroenke has seemed to put profit before glory and so to not take a transfer fee which it is thought would be around the £50 million mark seems to show a change of priority.
Maybe not though, according to a report in The Guardian which suggests that the reason Arsenal are keeping hold of Alexis and could see him leave for nothing next summer is also based on financial principles. The idea is that getting back into Europe’s top club competition at the first opportunity would be worth more to the club than £50 million.
There is the TV and matchday revenue, of course, but also hidden costs like the shirt sales that come with being a top club. There is also the fear that, like Man United, we would have to pay inflated wages and transfer fees to sign top players without UCL football on offer.
With that in mind it would make sense to keep our star player to help us back to the Champions League and he might then decide to stay as well. If this is the reason Arsenal will not sell it takes the shine off a bit but if it means we still have Alexis do we really care?
Bob.