Alongside the fan unrest and the rumours surrounding Wenger's future, a big question mark hangs over Arsenal's star forward—Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean has cut a frustrated figure this season, at times making his displeasure known on the field and in the papers. Sanchez standing with his hands on hips, staring mournfully down at the ground has become a familiar sight.
Nearly every club in Europe with the means to pay the transfer fee and the wage demands has been linked with Sanchez. This includes but is not limited to: PSG, Juventus, Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Bayern Munich have all been touted as potential destinations. It's a great transfer for the tabloids to chatter about, with no permutation too outlandish for their readers. But, let's take a look at the shortlist.
Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, their rivals Chelsea are high up on the list of suitors for several reasons. The first is that Sanchez apparently prefers Stamford Bridge over a move elsewhere—his family is settled in London and Chelsea are able to match his ambitions of winning trophies. While it would make sense as a move, Arsenal are likely to fiercely resist this transfer, not least because the fans are already angry at upper management. To lose their star player to hated rivals would exacerbate the issue.
Both of the Manchester clubs have been linked with Sanchez, too. So far, it's only the Sun to suggest either club as a possible destination, so the odds of a move north are definitely low. Of the two, Manchester City are the more likely to pay over the odds for Sanchez, and other players have made the journey from Emirates to Etihad over the past few years. With the financial clout Guardiola has, alongside the Champions League football on offer makes this a rumour worth keeping an eye on.
Whatever the situation at Arsenal—regardless of Wenger's future—the club will be more open to offers from the continent. This makes Bayern Munich one of the frontrunners for the Chilean's signature. Certainly they seem willing to stump up an inflated transfer fee, especially considering the player has just one more year left on his contract. This move would make a lot of sense for all parties. PSG have also registered their interest in the player and Paris have shown several times in their recent past that money is no object. Both clubs would offer a way for Arsenal to offload their star forward and save face—as well as a huge fee to buy a quality replacement with.
The bookies don't necessarily agree, offering shorter odds on a move to Manchester City, and considering Munich and Chelsea equally likely as a second option. In any case, Sanchez looks certain to leave this summer. Rather than being depressed about this, Arsenal fans should be excited—freeing up his wages and with the fee, it could reinvigorate the club.
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