The headlines declare Paris St Germain will make a bid for Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez but Arsène Wenger is adamant the Chilean will remain at the Emirates for at least one more season.
Speaking after their 0 – 3 defeat to Chelsea in the final match of their Chinese tour, the Arsenal boss declared the stories to be “media imagination.” That PSG are not a Premier League rival “doesn’t make any difference” to Arsenal’s position; the player will stay in north London.
When the Gunners first landed in Sydney on the first leg of their pre-season trip, the question of Alexis’ future burned on journalists’ lips. The Frenchman responded that the club expected players to honour their contracts with the 28-year-old Chilean international seeing out the final year of his current deal.
Indeed, he mischievously suggested that he and the club hadn’t given up hope of Sanchez renewing his contract, arguing that the player “can extend his contract with us at the start of the season or during the season.”
Sanchez has yet to comment publicly but speculation has continually centered around a move to Manchester City, reuniting him with former boss, Pep Guardiola. The Catalan signed Alexis from Udinese when he was in charge of Barcelona and the player has never hidden his admiration for the City manager.
With the Chilean due in London next week, the situation is expected to become a lot clearer from his perspective. While Wenger is determined to hold onto the player, the club’s resolve could yet be tested with a big money offer for Sanchez.
