Arsenal are set to make a dramatic U-turn and allow Alexis Sanchez to join Manchester City, according to Daily Mail.
The bidding started on Tuesday night, with the Gunners turning down a £50million cash offer from City for the Chilean. In a fiery meeting between boss Arsene Wenger and his coaching staff following the 4-0 drubbing at Liverpool, it was agreed that players who want to leave the Emirates should be allowed to do so.
But it will take a much better offer from City to land the forward, possibly a mega swap which would see England winger Raheem Sterling move in the opposite direction.
The manager, who is under intense pressure after two defeats in three games this season, led a heated meeting with his coaching staff at the club’s training HQ.
It was concluded that it would be best to sell players who have made it clear they want to leave, providing interested parties meet their valuation.
Chelsea have already had a £35m offer for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain accepted by the Gunners, though that move has stalled. And Arsenal are now ready to negotiate with City over a mega deal for Sanchez.
City want a straight cash deal for the former Barcelona star. However, Arsenal would much prefer a player-plus-cash offer and have their sights on Raheem Sterling.
Arsenal will have very little time to sign a replacement for Sanchez if Sterling isn’t part of the transfer, but a bid in excess of £70m — a huge amount given Sanchez can leave for nothing next summer — may persuade them.
Sterling is reportedly open to a move to the Emirates. The 22-year-old grew up in London and in a World Cup year, knows regular first-team football would be readily available at Arsenal. But City manager Pep Guardiola is reluctant to let the forward go following his two goals in City’s opening three Premier League games.
Some of Sanchez’s team-mates believe the uncertainty over his future is destabilising the dressing room. And there have been concerns over his effort in training and matches from coaches over the past six months.
It is understood Sanchez has told Chile boss Juan Antonio Pizzi he would like to sit out their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Thursday so he can sort out his future.
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