Spanish giants Real Madrid are reported to have opened negotiations with the representatives of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez. The Chile international has just nine months left on his Gunners contract, and he has seemingly made his mind up to leave the Emirates.
According to Don Balon, Los Blancos president Florentino Perez is keen on pursuing a deal for Sanchez, who could be available for a bargain sum in the winter transfer window. The 28-year-old was initially expected to leave for Manchester City in the summer, but the move was scuppered on transfer deadline day after the Gunners failed to find a suitable replacement.
Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane has regularly praised compatriot Karim Benzema for his efforts up front, but Perez does not seem to hold a similar opinion on the striker, who has faded away over the past year. Preferably Sanchez would prefer a reunion with Manchester City, but his ambition of winning the Champions League could lure him to Los Blancos, who are aiming to win their third straight European title.
The potential deal with the European champions, however, could depend on the assurance of regular game time as the Chilean would not want to be playing second fiddle to Benzema. Sanchez has recently returned to the Gunners setup following his recovery from a minor abdominal strain, and he appears to be hitting his top form following his spectacular curler effort in the 3-1 Europa League triumph over Cologne in midweek.
Arsenal have made an average start to their campaign with six points garnered from their opening four games, and they will require Sanchez in prime touch if they are to get anything from this weekend’s trip to Chelsea. The north London outfit flopped spectacularly in the 4-0 humbling at the hands of Liverpool last month, and the pressure is on Arsene Wenger to prove his side can compete against the league’s elite.
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