Arsenal believe they can beat Liverpool in race to sign Barcelona and Chile forward Alexis Sánchez
Anfield club want Barcelona forward Alexis Sánchez as part of Luis Suárez deal but Chile international favours London
Arsenal are growing increasingly confident of fending off interest from Liverpool in Barcelona’s Alexis Sánchez, despite representatives of the Chilean striker holding talks on Thursday with the Anfield club about his role in a possible part-exchange deal involving Luis Suárez.
Arsenal are understood to have a deal agreed in principle with Sánchez. Although Barcelona are eager for him to move to Liverpool to speed up the Suárez negotiations, there is no guarantee Sánchez will agree to such a switch as he considers his options.
Sánchez could be trying to play Liverpool and Arsenal off against one another but, as of Thursday night, the sense in Spain was still that he favours a move to London.
A fee would also have to be agreed with Barcelona and, having bid an initial £22 million, Arsenal are likely to have to increase their offer to beyond £25m. They certainly have the means to do that, with manager Arsène Wenger sitting on a transfer budget of around £100m.
Sánchez’s decision is now the only obstacle to a deal for Suárez being concluded relatively quickly. Even if Liverpool cannot secure the Chile star, who is on holiday, they are confident they will receive the full sale clause – a fee above £70m – for Suárez. Barcelona indicated in negotiations on Wednesday they were prepared to accept Liverpool’s position and activate Suárez’s exit clause.
What needs to be established is the terms of payment, with Liverpool eager for most of the cash up front.
If Sánchez is more interested in a move elsewhere, Liverpool will hope for a swift response from his representatives so they can switch to alternative targets once Suárez has gone.
In the past 24 hours, fears of prolonged negotiation for Suárez have receded following “productive” talks between the Liverpool and the Nou Camp hierarchy and there is even a chance Suárez will leave on warm terms with the Merseyside club.
Meanwhile, away from their most high-profile targets, Arsenal and Liverpool have moved to strengthen their squads.
Wenger has made inquiries about Newcastle’s Mathieu Debuchy, who is keeping their former right-back, Bacary Sagna, out of the France team. A fee still has to be agreed, although the difference between Arsenal’s valuation of £10m and the £12m asking price of Newcastle does not appear insurmountable.
Liverpool have confirmed the £10m signing of German Under-21 international Emre Can. He emerged through the ranks at Bayern Munich before excelling at Bayer Leverkusen and believes Liverpool can challenge the European elite.
“Liverpool can be on a similar level to Bayern Munich next season,” he said.
Anfield club want Barcelona forward Alexis Sánchez as part of Luis Suárez deal but Chile international favours London
Arsenal are growing increasingly confident of fending off interest from Liverpool in Barcelona’s Alexis Sánchez, despite representatives of the Chilean striker holding talks on Thursday with the Anfield club about his role in a possible part-exchange deal involving Luis Suárez.
Arsenal are understood to have a deal agreed in principle with Sánchez. Although Barcelona are eager for him to move to Liverpool to speed up the Suárez negotiations, there is no guarantee Sánchez will agree to such a switch as he considers his options.
Sánchez could be trying to play Liverpool and Arsenal off against one another but, as of Thursday night, the sense in Spain was still that he favours a move to London.
A fee would also have to be agreed with Barcelona and, having bid an initial £22 million, Arsenal are likely to have to increase their offer to beyond £25m. They certainly have the means to do that, with manager Arsène Wenger sitting on a transfer budget of around £100m.
Sánchez’s decision is now the only obstacle to a deal for Suárez being concluded relatively quickly. Even if Liverpool cannot secure the Chile star, who is on holiday, they are confident they will receive the full sale clause – a fee above £70m – for Suárez. Barcelona indicated in negotiations on Wednesday they were prepared to accept Liverpool’s position and activate Suárez’s exit clause.
What needs to be established is the terms of payment, with Liverpool eager for most of the cash up front.
If Sánchez is more interested in a move elsewhere, Liverpool will hope for a swift response from his representatives so they can switch to alternative targets once Suárez has gone.
In the past 24 hours, fears of prolonged negotiation for Suárez have receded following “productive” talks between the Liverpool and the Nou Camp hierarchy and there is even a chance Suárez will leave on warm terms with the Merseyside club.
Meanwhile, away from their most high-profile targets, Arsenal and Liverpool have moved to strengthen their squads.
Wenger has made inquiries about Newcastle’s Mathieu Debuchy, who is keeping their former right-back, Bacary Sagna, out of the France team. A fee still has to be agreed, although the difference between Arsenal’s valuation of £10m and the £12m asking price of Newcastle does not appear insurmountable.
Liverpool have confirmed the £10m signing of German Under-21 international Emre Can. He emerged through the ranks at Bayern Munich before excelling at Bayer Leverkusen and believes Liverpool can challenge the European elite.
“Liverpool can be on a similar level to Bayern Munich next season,” he said.
Comment