Chilean international is thought to favour a move to The Etihad this summer
Manchester City have been quite busy in the summer transfer window so far. Having endured what was a rather underwhelming season in 2016-17, manager Pep Guardiola has already started preparing for the 2017-18 campaign. A number of players have been let go, and a few big and expensive signings have been made.
Willy Caballero, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Jesus Navas, Pablo Zabaleta, Bruno Zuculini, Nolito and Aleksandar Kolarov all have left the Etihad Stadium for good, while Joe Hart has been sent out on a season-long loan deal to West Ham United. No fewer than five major new signings have been made by City. Midfielder Bernardo Silva, goalkeeper Ederson, right-backs Kyle Walker and Danilo, and left-back Benjamin Mendy, all have arrived at the Etihad Stadium for big money, making City the favourites to win the Premier League title next season with odds of 9/5.
The current City squad is looking considerably better than last season’s, and at first glance there, is no need to sign any more players. After all, who can realistically enhance the quality of the attacking department or the midfield area? The likes of Arturo Vidal, Toni Kroos and Neymar are not going to arrive, and may well suggest that Guardiola has more than enough to work with the squad that he has at the moment.
However, every single squad in the world has room for improvement, and City’s is no different. One player that Guardiola could sign between now and the end of the summer transfer window is Alexis Sanchez. City have been strongly linked with the player Guardiola managed at Barcelona, and one should not be surprised if the Chile international forward leaves the Gunners for the Citizens this summer. After all, Sanchez is only 9/5 to join City in the summer transfer window according to latest transfer market odds.
Sanchez is one of the best attacking players in the Premier League and is, without a shadow of doubt, the best footballer at Arsenal. During the 2016-17 campaign, Sanchez scored 24 goals and provided ten assists in 36 Premier League starts for Arsenal, and scored three goals and provided three assists in eight Champions League appearances.
The 28-year-old, who can operate as a forward or as a winger, is at his peak, and he would be a great addition to the current City squad. The Citizens have world-class attacking players such as Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, while the likes of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus are hugely talented, but there is always room for a player with the experience and power of Sanchez.
The former Udinese star has worked with Guardiola at Barcelona, so there would be no issue regarding the forward adapting to the ex-Bayern Munich head coach’s tactics. Sanchez has played with some of the best players in the world, such as Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, meaning that he would not have any problem in working with the likes of Aguero and Silva. Moreover, signing Sanchez would weaken Arsenal, who failed to finish in the top four of the Premier League last season, and losing the Chilean would only decimate their chances of challenging for the league title.