Alexis Sanchez has a little over one year remaining on his contract with Arsenal, but the Chilean forward is already seeking a transfer to another club, and Chelsea is at the top of his list.
The 28-year-old’s contract with Arsenal expires in June 2018, and the Gunners have not reached any sort of extension with Sanchez.
According to Matt Law of The Telegraph, Paris Saint-German, Juventus and some Chinese Super League teams are all also interested in Sanchez, but the Chilean seems to want to stay local, and move just cross-town to London’s other Premier League club.
Law also reported that Chelsea are gearing up for bids for both Sanchez and Belgian star Romelu Lukaku, both of whom the Stamford Bridge-based club would be interested in signing this summer.
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Sanchez emphasized recently that he wants to be on a “winning team.”
Arsenal seem increasingly unlikely to finish in the top four of the Premier League this season. Therefore, they may not end up playing in the UEFA Champions League in 2017-18.
Chelsea, meanwhile, lead the league with 69 points. Arsenal are sixth with 51 points. Tottenham (62) — one of the other teams rumored to be interested in Sanchez — Liverpool (59), Manchester City (58) and Manchester United (53) round out the top five.
Law suggested that Sanchez, a former Barcelona star, may have to force his way out of Arsenal, leading “to a potentially ugly summer saga.”
The Chilean has scored 18 goals for the Gunners this season, twice as many as Arsenal’s second-best scorer, Theo Walcott.
Despite all of the speculation surrounding Sanchez’s possible exit from the club, manager Arsene Wenger has stated he is confused as to why there is so much noise about this, particularly because he considers the Chilean still has a long time remaining on his contract.
“He has a one and a half year contract,” Wenger said. “I don’t see what suddenly that debate is about.
“We are professional football people, our job is to perform as long as we are somewhere.
“When I sign a contract, I commit until the last day of my contract. That is what it is to be professional.
“I don’t understand this anxiety, one and a half years before the end of a contract,” he continued. “It’s absolutely denying what a professional guy is about.”
Arsenal next host West Ham on Wednesday, and will miss French defender Laurent Koscielny for that game. Koscielny injured his Achilles tendon during Sunday’s 2-2 tie with Manchester City and left the field at half-time. Now, the Gunners anxiously await the results of his scans.
SANTA CLARA, CA – JUNE 18: Jesus Duenas #20 of Mexico battles for control of the ball with Alexis Sanchez #7 of Chile during the 2016 Copa America Centenario Quarterfinals match play between Mexico and Chile at Levi’s Stadium on June 18, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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