Arsenal transfer news: Manchester City hold the ‘aces’ for Alexis Sanchez deal

According to the Manchester Evening News, the Sky Blues have every advantage when it comes to seeking a deal for Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez.

Philippe Coutinho signed for Barcelona at the weekend, which means the transfer gossip has now switched to the future of the Chilean frontman who, like his South American counterpart, has long been rumoured to be on the verge of a new start.

The paper says that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was initially prepared to land Sanchez on a free transfer in June but the recent knee injury to Gabriel Jesus has caused a rethink at the Etihad.

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Consequently, Guardiola is ready to swoop for Sanchez this month, but according to the paper the Gunners have been “happy to encourage links with Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in a bid to drive up the price of Sanchez”.

Despite Arsenal’s chicanery, City remain “confident” that Sanchez will sign for them this month although they may have to meet Arsenal’s asking price of £35million.

Not so, says the Daily Mirror, which claims that the Sky Blues have “sounded out Arsenal about a potential £25m deal”. The paper says it has it on good authority that the Premier League leaders have been in touch with their north London rivals. While Arsenal are open to selling the 29-year-old Sanchez, they’re after “closer to £30m”.

Additionally, the Gunners want the deal concluded as swiftly as possible so that they can chase a replacement before the January transfer window closes.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail says that Spanish outfit Valencia are chasing Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin, who was apparently withdrawn from the club’s FA Cup squad at the weekend because of an imminent transfer, while Theo Walcott is also on the brink of leaving the Emirates.

According to Goal.com the 28-year-old Walcott, who is Arsenal’s longest serving player, fears for his England future if he stays in north London warming the bench. Among the clubs monitoring the the player’s situation are Everton and Southampton, who sold him to Arsenal in 2006.