Atletico Madrid demand Alexis Sanchez in Jose Gimenez deal

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Arsenal’s pursuit of solutions to their defensive crisis took a bizarre twist when Atletico Madrid demanded that Alexis Sanchez, 27, be included in any deal to take Jose Gimenez, 21, to the Emirates.

Sanchez, valued at double the £40m Atleti have placed on the talented Uruguayan, has been the target for Serie A giants Juventus and Inter Milan earlier this summer.

Both were emphatically told Arsenal were not selling the Chilean international.

The Gunners refused the proposal as talks between the two clubs reached a stalemate. Atletico, reluctant sellers in the first place, are determined to hold onto the promising youngster.

The move provoked a £26m bid by Arsenal for Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi, 26, with the German international now expected in north London this week for a medical.

Personal terms are close to being agreed with the two clubs also in talks over how the fee will be structured.

Financial problems have forced Los Che to sell with the club currently in breach of FFP regulations. It has prevented them registering new players and forced them to the negotiating table.

Attempts to start a bidding war have so far failed with the Premier League club the only ones to show genuine interest in signing the versatile defender.

 

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