Arsenal to enter transfer deadline day with uncertainty around Alexis Sanchez

Sport360 staff 23:51 30/08/2017
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  • Alexis Sanchez

    Arsenal will enter the final day of the transfer window with uncertainty still surrounding a number of their players.

    After selling England international duo Kieran Gibbs on Wednesday, more departures from the Emirates Stadium are expected before Thursday’s 11pm transfer deadline.

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alexis Sanchez are the most likely to depart, with England international Oxlade-Chamberlain on the brink of a move to Liverpool and Manchester City expected to continue to test the Gunners’ resolve with Sanchez.

    Oxlade-Chamberlain was in a similar position to Sanchez and, after rebuffing the chance to join Premier League champions Chelsea, he appears set for a move to Liverpool. The clubs have agreed a fee and he is understood to be ready to sign a long-term deal on Thursday.

    The 24-year-old had started all of Arsenal’s league games this season – the last being a 4-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday – but none of those appearance came in his preferred central position.

    Sanchez has less than a year to run on his contract and, although manager Arsene Wenger has repeatedly said he will not sell the Chile forward, it is understood City have already had one bid rejected in recent days.

    Meanwhile Gibbs, who had slipped down the pecking order, completed a move to West Brom. The 27-year-old started just eight league games last season and was widely expected to be moved on as Wenger wanted to trim his squad.

    Defender Gabriel was sold earlier in the month, while full-backs Carl Jenkinson and Cohen Bramall both moved to Sky Bet Championship side Birmingham on season-long loan deals.

    There could still be further movement as both Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez have also been linked with other clubs.

    The pair only arrived at Arsenal late last summer but are outside bets to depart just a year later.
    Mustafi has been linked with Inter Milan having played just once – in the 1-0 defeat at Stoke – so far this campaign.

    Perez has been told he is free to leave but a financial package with former club Deportivo has been some way from completion for weeks.

    The 29-year-old, who has also garnered interest from Premier League rivals Everton and Newcastle, is now hoping a last-minute loan deal can be put in place to see him return to the Riazor.

    While there could yet be a flurry of outgoings, Arsenal fans are expected to be left frustrated when it comes to any new arrivals.

    Wenger said last week that a move for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar was “dead” as the Ligue 1 champions did not want to sell, although links with Liverpool continue.

    Paris St Germain attacker Julian Draxler is another name being touted but a move for the Germany international appears unlikely to come off.

    Provided by Press Association Sport

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