Arsenal: Manchester City £60m for Alexis Sanchez has hidden boons

Arsene Wenger may be adamantly clinging to the idea that he wants Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal this year, but for £60m, we have plenty to think about.

The idea of losing Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City is mortifying, and it’s something that any Arsenal fan would grind their teeth over. So many Gunners have made the same move after so much promise at the Emirates.

Seeing more of the same would no doubt be a bit sickening and make us wonder just how much we have progressed.

However, with the new reports from the Telegraph that Manchester City are finally going to table their first offer for Alexis, it’s time to take things seriously. And by seriously, I mean let’s actually consider the prospect of selling him and what would come of it.

For starters, the bid is said to be worth £60m. Which is certainly a chunk of change the likes of which we probably won’t see again for some time. Obviously this isn’t about the money, but if money is the hold up in finding Alexis a replacement, then this would more than take care of it.

Not just that, but letting Alexis walk for free next summer isn’t so much about the fact that it’s “free,” it’s about the fact that we then have less than two months to identify, purchase, and acclimate a replacement. That is hard to do unless we already have someone lined up, which is always a possibility.

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The fee we would get for the Chilean would be more than enough to pay for our choice of Emil Forsberg, Thomas Lemar or even Julian Draxler, who has sprung back onto the transfer board after PSG landed Neymar and are still on the hunt for more.

Which is another thing to consider. All three of these players are intriguing long-term solution to the current problem, which is that Alexis does not want to be here, but may be forced to stay here against his will.

That’s not a very conducive environment to be trying to win a title in. And if there are any hesitations over whether this may cause some problems in the locker room, then wouldn’t it be best to just get rid of him now?

That fee is a tantalizing one that could help fund so many moves. I know that seeing Alexis in baby blue is akin to pouring ghost pepper salsa in your eyes continuously for three hours, but if it has to happen, let’s at least think of the positives that come with it.

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Namely, that Wenger would never sell Alexis if he wasn’t sure he had a replacement on deck.

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