Guardiola & Man City should go all out to sign Alexis Sanchez

The Chilean appears to be stalling on contract
talks at the Emirates Stadium and the Blues
should be on red alert about the chance of signing
him
COMMENT
Manchester City have already missed out on
Alexis Sanchez once, they will not want to again.
It was Manuel Pellegrini, City’s former manager,
who revealed this week that he tried to bring his
countryman to the Etihad Stadium in 2014, only to
be scuppered by FFP regulations.
Not that City couldn’t afford him. Uefa sanctions
meant the club’s Champions League squad had to
be reduced and, according to Pellegrini, there was
no room for Alexis.
Alexis: Contract depends on Arsenal
City can certainly afford him now, and they would
certainly make room. Sergio Aguero has
responded very well to the challenge of upping his
overall game but the impending arrival of Gabriel
Jesus is not the only threat to the Argentine’s
game time.
City are thought to be keeping tabs on a number of
big-name strikers, and Alexis will surely be one of
them.
His current contract impasse with Arsenal
suggests he is killing time, reluctant to commit
himself to a club which has shown little sign that
they are ready to finally win the title.
If he is to angle for a move this summer, City will
surely be at the front of the queue. Pellegrini, now
at Hebei China Fortune, may plot a £500,000-per-
week deal to lure Alexis to China but the player
still feels he has a lot to prove at the very top of
the game.
'Judge vulnerable City next season'
And with Arsenal said to be offering £180,000-
per-week, there is scope for City to improve his
weekly earnings without breaking the bank - they
will let six players go when their contracts expire,
including Yaya Toure and his earnings of more
than £200,000 a week.
There are also a relative lack of other options for
Alexis, given he is unlikely to return to Barcelona
or be pursued by Real Madrid. Bayern Munich
would appear to be the only serious rivals from
the continent, given Juventus spent their cash
reserves on Gonzalo Higuain.
Pep defends style: I want to win
The major determining factor in Alexis’ next move
is where he will get the biggest chance to win
trophies. It is believed he wants to be
remembered as Chile’s finest ever footballer, but
that quest is not being helped by the fact Arturo
Vidal has won one major club trophy every year
since 2012.
City are by no means the finished article but the
opportunity to work with Guardiola again would
appeal, and he would be perfect for the Catalan’s
high-intensity, technical, doggedly committed
approach.
There was an infamous touchline incident during
their time together at Camp Nou, where Alexis
picked up a muscle injury after playing 90 minutes
for his country just days beforehand. Guardiola
used a very specific South American insult,
designed to have particular resonance with the
Chilean, and one that cannot be published here.
The only printable part of the exchange shows
Guardiola furiously urging the stricken forward to
“use his head”.
That, though, is probably a little bit of hypocrisy on
Guardiola’s part. After all, he wants full
commitment from his players but seemingly not
when they play for their country. That can be
overlooked.
'£80m for Alexis is Arsenal's get out'
Guardiola, though, was very keen to point out that
he had not called Alexis personally after his hat-
trick at West Ham. It was claimed in Chile that he
tried to get the Arsenal man to move to the Etihad
not long after he had got home from helping the
Gunners win at the London Stadium.
“Guys, the journalist is a liar,” he went out of his
way to point out in English after initially asserting
the same thing in Catalan.
It is quite the claim to make and it is no wonder
Guardiola was keen to dismiss it.
But it is equally hard to believe City would not join
the race if Alexis does decide his needs would be
better served elsewhere.
Arsene Wenger was asked about City’s habit of
signing his best players in recent years on Friday
morning, and he quipped that the Blues “were a
good client”.
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It is the type of quip that is typical of the modern
Arsenal - ‘yeah but at least our bank accounts
look good’ - and surely one of the reasons Alexis
must be wondering if they can match his
ambitions.
If he eventually does want out, City will would be
mad not to make their move.
Wenger: Guardiola has it easy
He will be 29 on Monday, the day after Arsenal
take on City, and he could well celebrate with a
goal or too.
If he does score at the Etihad, there will be some
in the directors’ box hoping it will not be the final
time - as long as he’s wearing blue.
Alexis has one more big move left in him, and
Guardiola’s City could offer him all he cra