CHINA TOPIX

03/28/2024 09:01:50 am

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Football Transfer Rumors: Arsenal Set to Battle with Inter Milan for Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez

(Photo : Getty Images) Arsenal and Inter Milan are set to battle for Alexis Sanchez in January.

Rumors have emerged that Inter Milan is planning to make a mega-money offer to Alexis Sanchez in January but Arsenal is said to be keen on battling the Italian club for their Chilean goalscorer.

Sanchez, who will turn 28 in December, has been one of the top forwards in the Premier League for the past couple of seasons. He was acquired by Arsenal from La Liga giants Barcelona in the summer of 2014 for $39 million.

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The Chile international has scored 52 goals in 109 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners since then.

Serie A club Inter, who was recently taken over by Chinese conglomerate Suning Holdings Group, is said to be plotting an "audacious move" for Sanchez when the upcoming winter transfer window opens. The still undisclosed bid will reportedly "test the Gunners' resolve" to keep the 5-foot-6 winger, according to The Sun.

Sanchez' contract in London is set to expire in the summer of 2018 and a new deal is expected to be reached within the season. Sanchez is reportedly asking for a $234,000-per-week compensation, which would be a significant increase to his current $152,000 weekly wage.

Caught Offside reported that Sanchez and Arsenal are not yet seeing eye-to-eye on a contract extension, but the Gunners are "under growing pressure" to re-sign their striker "before other clubs have an opportunity" to send him an offer.

Some analysts believe that it would be highly unlikely for Sanchez to exchange his Champions League prospects in England for Inter's current instability "regardless of the money" that I Nerazzurri's current Chinese owners are "willing to put on the table".

Sanchez is familiar with the Serie A as he had played in the Italian top-flight before, suiting up for Udinese Calcio from 2006 to 2011 before his move to Barcelona.

However, with Arsenal in the hunt for the Premier League title this season and another stint in the Champions League next year, it would be a "major step down" for the Chilean to leave the Emirates Stadium at this point.

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