Pep Guardiola rules out Raheem Sterling Arsenal swap if Manchester City bid for Alexis Sanchez again

James Benge8 September 2017

Pep Guardiola could not confirm whether Manchester City will renew their interest in Alexis Sanchez in January but insisted Raheem Sterling would not be a part of any package to lure the Arsenal forward.

City had a £60million bid for Sanchez accepted on transfer deadline day only to see the move fall apart because Arsenal were unable to secure Monaco forward Thomas Lemar as a replacement.

Guardiola's side are expected to resume their chase in January though could face competition from European rivals including Paris Saint-Germain, who will be free to sign a pre-contract with a club outside the Premier League ahead of his Arsenal deal's expiry at the end of the season.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash with Liverpool, City boss Guardiola said: "I don't know what's going to happen in the wintertime or next season. He's an Arsenal player.

"Of course we were interested in him (but) at the end Arsenal decided not to sell him. So, all the best for Alexis. I know him from Barcelona. And that's all. Sometimes the deals work, sometimes not."

Arsenal raised the possibility of including a player in any deal for Sanchez, with Sterling among their preferred options. However Guardiola swiftly shut down that avenue.

In Pictures | Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal

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He said: "They talked to me and I said, 'No chance, zero chance, not one per cent chance to make a swap with Alexis and Raz'.

"He is 22, English. He has a lot to improve (but) I trust a lot in him.

"The only deal, if possible, was cash. We tried to make an offer. They accepted but in the end they could not sign the player they wanted to sign, (so) Alexis stayed in Arsenal."

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