The Daily Star has reported that Arsenal target Alexis Sanchez is in negotiations with Juventus, leaving manager Arsene Wenger having to up his offer if he is to have any chance of landing the Barcelona star.
ARSENAL and Liverpool must up their offers to sign Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona as Juventus agree terms with the player.
The Premier League giants need to act quickly if they are to have any chance of signing the Chilean.
Reports in Italy suggest that Juventus are in the driving seat having already agreed terms with the winger.
Any deal for Arsenal would ideally be concluded in the coming days, as the Chilean is due to travel to Brazil with his national team for the World Cup. Wenger is also going to Brazil as a pundit for French television so it is likely that the Arsenal manager will have his hands full for the next few weeks. Conversely it also increases the chances of Wenger getting some face time with the sensational winger.
Wenger has already admitted to Sky Sports that the North London club are in need of another forward to work with Olivier Giroud. Speaking earlier in the month he said:
“There is perhaps room for an attacking player who can play in a different position to Giroud. Someone who can play with him as well. But I do not know yet who will be on the market.”
Sanchez would add yet more pace to Arsenal’s attacking line. One criticism of The Gunners over the past season has been the lack of players able to run past defenders, with the injuries to Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain having taken their toll. The electrifying pace of Sanchez would no doubt help to stretch defenders and create more room for other players.
After joining Barca in 2011 for a fee which could reach £33m Sanchez was hit by serious injury and found a very slow path back into the first team.
But he found his feet last season with 21 goals and 15 assists in all competitions – season stats comparable with the world’s most expensive player, Gareth Bale. Nevertheless, new manager Luis Enrique may prefer technical players such as Cristian Tello and Pedro, who occupy similar positions.
What is not in doubt is that Arsenal would be getting an absolute gem if they could persuade Barca to sell and Sanchez to join. Let’s see him in action.
By Nathan Gibson
