Alexis Sanchez to Juventus: Italian champions target Arsenal star as Emirates contract talks grind on

Transfer target: Juventus have joined a growing list of clubs ready to make a move for Alexis Sanchez
Paul Gilham/Getty Images
James Olley10 May 2016

Juventus have joined a growing list of clubs ready to make a move for Alexis Sanchez should he decide to leave Arsenal.

The Gunners are determined to reject all offers for the 27-year-old and are hopeful of tying him to a new contract given his present deal has just over two years left to run.

Manager Arsene Wenger has insisted Sanchez is happy at the club despite reports he stormed out of Emirates Stadium immediately after being substituted towards the end of last month’s 1-0 win over Norwich.

Talks are said to have progressed very slowly over his contract extension. Bayern Munich made an enquiry about Sanchez earlier in the season and now Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta has done little to dampen speculation the Italian giants could be a possible destination if indeed Sanchez wants a new challenge.

Speaking about Sanchez to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Moratta said: “It’s nice to read that so many players would like Juventus. Reality tells us that this team is now where it has historically been considered, so it’s normal that most top players would find the thought of coming to us appealing.

“[Antonio] Di Natale rejected us, but those days are long gone. As for Sanchez, he’s definitely a good player.”

Sanchez was quoted in March appearing to question his team-mates’ focus and self-belief in matches, claiming “I train with them daily and they have got the mentality and the desire to win but we lack hunger, the mentality that we are [already] winning 1-0 when we go out on to the pitch”.

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He remains fully committed to the cause, however, having scored Arsenal’s second equaliser in last Sunday’s draw at Manchester City and Wenger believes he will be able to agree new deals with Sanchez and Mesut Ozil as the Gunners prepare for what could be the Frenchman’s final season in charge.

It is understood one element complicating negotiations is the uncertainty around Wenger’s position. He has always insisted he would not leave the club this summer and see out the final year of his deal but while the Arsenal hierarchy are happy for him to stay beyond 2017, Wenger has repeatedly refused to discuss his future beyond that date.

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