Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has added fuel to the fire surrounding potential interest in Alexis Sanchez after refusing to rule out a summer move for the Arsenal star.
Sanchez, 27, has 18 months remaining on his existing deal with the Gunners and is currently locked in contract talks over a renewal, although his wage demands are reportedly proving a stumbling block in negotiations.
The Chile international is reportedly demanding to be paid in excess of £200,000-a-week and is even using a blockbuster £400,000-a-week offer from China to pressure Arsenal into giving in to his demands.
To add to Arsenal’s problems, Chelsea are also now understood to be monitoring Sanchez’s situation at the Emirates with a view to make a sensational swoop for the tenacious forward and Conte would not rule out such move in the future.
“I don’t think it’s right to talk about other players of other teams. It’s not right,” the London Evening Standard quote Conte as saying in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against West Brom.
“But now we are totally focused on the next game against West Bromwich. January or next season ar every far [away] for us, but it’s not right to talk about the players of other teams. It’s a lack of respect for their players, their clubs, my team and my club.”
Sanchez has been in sensational form for Arsenal this season and is crucial to their title challenge, although a decision will need to be made on his future soon despite the fact Arsene Wenger insisted he was not interested in selling his star players and would even let them run their contract down.
With Mesut Ozil’s current deal due to expire at the same time as Sanchez’s, these are difficult times for Arsenal as they look to avoid losing both of their most important players at the same time. Only Eden Hazard (7.99) has a higher WhoScored rating in the Premier League than Sanchez (7.99) this season.
For more stats on Alexis Sanchez, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
