Who Should Arsenal turn to if Alexis Sanchez eventually leaves The Emirates. Football Weeks has rounded up five replacement we think could replace the Chile international including Paris Saint-Germain winger Julian Draxler.
With reports claiming that the whole of Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City saga could be the trending in the January transfer window, it’s fair to say the Gunners have some work to do.
Arsenal reportedly face fresh interest from Pep Guardiola’s side in Sanchez this winter, with a cut-price deal of around £20million being in talks according to the Daily Mirror.
Sanchez would be a huge loss for Arsenal, even if the ex-Barcelona striker hasn’t started this season in the kind of form that saw him netted 30 goals across all competitions last season.
Despite Arsene Wenger fighting off interest in Sanchez so far, the 28-year-old will be out of contract at the end of this season and talks of new contract has stalled.
This could force the north London side to sell the forward to Manchester City for less than they’d like, and it’s clear such an influential player would need a top class replacement to take his place in Wenger’s attack.
Football Weeks has rounded up five replacement who could fill that void……
Thomas Lemar
Subject of a £92million deadline day bid from the Gunners in the summer, according to London Evening Standard, could Arsenal reignite their interest in the Monaco winger again in January?
The talented 21-year-old France international impressed in Ligue 1 last season and has not stopped making rounds this season. There were reported interest from Arsenal over the summer months, though a deal could not be reached as Sanchez ended up staying instead.
Still, Arsenal reviving this deal would not be surprising if City are successful in snatching Sanchez away in the middle of the season.
Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has also been quoted revealing Lemar could be sold in future, though that could likely be next summer and not this winter.
Vasilyev told Sky Sports: ‘I think it would be fair to say Thomas will have a fair chance to an exit next year. January, in football, never say never, but this is not what we’re thinking of.’
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Not recently linked with Arsenal, but a pacey and prolific striker who seems absolutely tailor-made to replace Alexis Sanchez at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gabonese forward also admitted Borussia Dortmund were ready to sell him this summer, he told Sport Bild as quoted via the Metro: ‘There was a time in the window when I could have changed (clubs).
‘We (Aubameyang and the Dortmund board) agreed on this together in all openness but nothing happened.’
Seeing Ousmane Dembele joining Barcelona in the summer, it’s more unlikely Dortmund would allow Aubameyang leave Dortmund in any time soon, but as the saying goes, ‘there’s no harm in trying’ Arsenal could try and give it a go.
Julian Draxler
Julian Draxler has severally been linked with Arsenal on many occasions, with recent report claiming he could have confirm his interest in joining the Gunners via an Instagram post.
According to the Daily Star last week, the tabloid claimed Wenger could Sanchez to Paris Saint-Germain in a cash plus player deal that would see Draxler joining his side instead of selling Sanchez to Manchester City.
A cash plus player would be the best thing since slice bread to end the Sanchez transfer saga as Draxler would slot right in perfectly as an ideal attacker to fill the Chile international boots.
PSG’s acquisition of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe this summer has seen Draxler fallen down the pecking order under Unai Emery’s side, so could well favour the move to north London in January.
Anthony Martial
There have been reports elsewhere that Arsenal could pursue a shock move for Manchester United forward Anthony Martial if they lose Sanchez to Manchester City in January. The 21-year-old has been in great form for Jose Mourinho’s side this season, despite in his new super-sub role.
Martial has been rated as one of the best young talents in world football, the France forward may well feel he is worthy of playing more often, which might seem more possible at the Emirates.
He is capable of playing out wide or deployed as a centre-forward, he is another ideal like-for-like replacement to Sanchez and Martial’s huge experience in the Premier League would serve as a bonus for Arsenal.
Still, there is no possibility of him leave Old Trafford as the Red Devils will surely not want to risk strengthening a rival with such a potentially lethal attacking player.
Raheem Sterling
Finally, the Daily Mirror have also claimed the Gunners could try again to sign former Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling from Man City in January.
Wenger has been a long-time admirer of the England international was top of priority targets to replace Sanchez during the summer, though Pep Guardiola was not interested in parting with his star man.
There’s no doubting what Sterling could do in Arsenal Red and White jersey after his brilliant start to the season for Manchester City, in which he has seen the net six times this season.