English FA champions Arsenal have rejected a hefty US$65m (US£50m) bid for their Chilean playmaker Alex Sanchez from rivals Manchester City.
The 28-year-old, is out of contract next summer and wants to rejoin Pep Guardiola, whom he worked with before he joined Arsenal from Barcelona.
Instead according to the BBC, Arsenal have said the only way they can reach agreement with City is if the Manchester club accepts a deal that involves Raheem Sterling moving to London.
But Guardiola is understood to want the Chilean as a straight purchase.
Sterling, 22, has featured in all three of City’s games so far this season. However he is not guaranteed a starting role at Etihad Stadium following the summer arrival of Bernardo Silva from Monaco.
On his part, Sterling is said to favour a move to London where he should he is expected to become part of Wenger’s attacking force.
But a number of pundits argue that any deal involving the departure of Sanchez will sink Arsenal.
Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy says Arsenal cannot afford to lose Sanchez.
“If they let him go they’re in a world of trouble. They’re in a world of trouble anyway,” Murphy said.
Sanchez joined Arsenal from Barcelona, where he played under Guardiola, in 2014 for a fee of about £35m and won the FA Cup for the second time last season.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said earlier this month that Sanchez would “respect” his decision and stay. But he also hinted at the potential financial risk facing the Gunners in case the club rejects Mac city’s bid.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have reportedly accepted Chelsea’s £40m bid for Oxlade-Chamberlain
But the defender has reportedly turned down the bid because of Chelsea’s alleged plan to plan him in the back instead of his preferred central midfield.
The 24-year-old England international wants to move to Liverpool, although Liverpool are not prepared to offer the same amount as Chelsea.
