Arsenal must have thought that Alexis Sanchez’s future would be resolved by now.
It’s almost unbelievable that a club of their stature have allowed their most important player’s contract to dwindle down to having just 18 months left on it.
The Chilean seems undecided on whether to commit to staying at the Emirates, and the uncertainty over Arsene Wenger’s own future – with the manager’s own deal expiring in the summer – can’t be helping matters.
As much as Arsenal hope he’ll stay with them and back down over the wage demands his representatives are thought to be making, there has to come a time when the club comes up with a contingency plan.
Journalist Emanuele Giulianelli has told WhoScored that the Gunners do have a world-class replacement in mind – and it’s Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus.
Exclusive: Arsenal readying €60m Reus bid should Alexis exit Emirates – via @WhoScored – https://t.co/fKLMClipvf
— Emanuele Giulianelli (@EmaGiulianelli) January 26, 2017
Reus, 27, still has over two years left on his current deal, so it seems unlikely that BVB would allow him to leave unless he were to demand it.
Incredibly, though, while the Germany international has only made four starts in the Bundesliga this season due to injury, Arsenal would be willing to pay €60m, or about £50.9m.
In terms of wages, he would pick up £6.8m, or €8m a year – so, considerably less than the upwards of £200,000 a week that Sanchez would like.
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