Arsenal: Depending on your opinion, Neymar could scupper or save

Paris Saint-Germain are in the process of completing a sensational move for Neymar. Depending on your opinion regarding Alexis Sanchez, the transfer could either scupper or save Arsenal’s summer.

The biggest decision that Arsenal had to make this summer, once Arsene Wenger had agreed to a controversial and unpopular new two-year deal, was the future of Alexis Sanchez. Their best, most important and influential player had just one year remaining on his current contract. Do you sell and attempt to replace or do you keep, hoping to sign him to a new deal, in full knowledge that the risk of him leaving for nothing just a year later is a real one?

It is far from an easy decision. It is also one that the Gunners still have to make, with little certainty and clarity regarding the situation currently. Because of the difficulty of the choice, people’s opinions of what the best course of action are varied. Some believe that Wenger should sell him for as much as he can. Others want him to stay, no matter the offer on the table, with or without a new contract.

The contrast in viewpoints is perfectly understandable. As is often the case with such important and influential decisions, the right one will only reveal itself two or three years into the future. Hind sight, as they say, is 20:20 vision.

However, in the modern transfer world, there are many cogs that must come together for any deal to be completed. There must be a willing seller, a doting buyer and a player who is happy to move. Finding all three is not always that easy.

One possible buyer that have made their interest known is Paris Saint-Germain, who have reportedly agreed in principle a deal with Sanchez, and are now the favourites to secure his services after Wenger stated that Manchester City would not be considered as possible business partners and Bayern Munich dropped their interest thanks to their loan acquisition of James Rodriguez.

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PSG, though, are also rumoured to be in talks to sign Neymar in a sensational, world-record deal. The reports claim that the French giants are ready to activate a €222million release clause. Given the costings involved with both potential transfers, and the similar positions that both players play, it is difficult to envisage a scenario in which PSG sign both Sanchez and Neymar.

Consequently, if you want Arsenal to sell Sanchez, receiving the highest possible price for their star man, then the possible Neymar move scuppers your ideal scenario. If, like me, you would rather Sanchez stay, irrespective of whether he agrees to a new deal or not, then Neymar is suddenly the saviour.

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Whether PSG do indeed complete the remarkable signing of Neymar or not remains to be seen. However, it will be a saga to keep a close eye on, because it could have significant ramifications regarding Arsenal and the future of Alexis Sanchez.

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