There are two sides to the argument that Arsenal should sell Alexis Sanchez in January.
On the one hand, it would benefit the Gunners to receive some payment for Sanchez instead of letting him leave for free at the end of the season.
But what if Arsenal are battling for a top four spot come January, or in a good spot to add an FA Cup or EFL Cup trophy? Surely Arsene Wenger wouldn’t consider selling the Chilean then.
Wenger is still hopeful that Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will sign contract extensions at the Emirates Stadium but he has admitted that both could be sold in the January window.
“Once you are in our kind of situation we have envisaged every kind of solution, yes,” Wenger said this week, per The Guardian. “It’s possible.”
Sanchez, who will miss the 2018 World Cup after Chile failed to qualify, has scored just once all season for Arsenal.
But that hasn’t perturbed Manchester City, who are widely expected to make another move for Sanchez in January.
The Citizens failed with a £60 million bid for the 29-year-old on deadline day, although it’s unlikely Pep Guardiola is regretting that given how well his team is currently playing.
Man City have already scored 30 goals this season in all competitions and hardly need additional support in attack.
But with Sanchez’s value plummeting, it makes sense to move for the former Barcelona winger.
Sanchez wants City move
According to the Mirror, Man City are ready to make a bid for Sanchez in January and are prepared to offer just £20m for the player.
The paper claims Sanchez has made up his mind to move to the Etihad Stadium, further boosting Man City’s hopes of signing him.
Arsenal will need to pick Sanchez up after Chile missed out on a spot at next year’s World Cup in Russia.
La Roja lost 3-0 to Brazil in their final qualifier this week, meaning they missed out on a play-off spot on goal difference.
It remains to be seen whether Sanchez will be ready to play against Watford on Saturday, with Wenger acknowledging the disappointment he is currently going through.
"He is as well in a very difficult mind. Chile just won the Copa America twice and now they don't even go to the World Cup," Wenger said, per the Evening Standard.
"Sanchez is 29 at the end of the year, so the next one he will be 33. He expected to go. Certainly (it is) a big disappointment for him."
Getting his dream move to Man City would probably boost Sanchez’s spirits.