Arsenal's signing of Alexandre Lacazette may have brought a lot of joy to Gunners fans, but the arrival of the Frenchman was always going to be tinged with sadness as it would likely be the deal that accelerates the exit of Alexis Sanchez from the club.
Although that may now not be the case. At least if Sanchez gets what he wants.
Lacazette arrives in North London as Arsenal's most expensive and highest paid player, pocketing a reported weekly wage of £200,000. This has prompted Sanchez to make a significant demand in order to sign a new deal to remain with the Gunners.
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With the Chilean forward yet to commit to a new contract at the Emirates stadium, with just 12 months left on his current one, the 28-year-old has now demanded an astonishing £400,000-per-week - a salary that would make him the Premier League's top earner, while also shattering Arsenal's current wage structure in the process.
Sanchez's new wage demands may force the Gunners to sell him rather than attempt to keep him at the club. Images: PA
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It had been reported a couple of months ago that the Gunners' board were willing to offer Sanchez in the region of £300,000-per-week in a bid to convince him to stay at the club, amid rumours of interest from Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG and Juventus.
However, Sanchez has still not put pen to paper and is trying to force Arsenal's hand, with a potential free transfer out of the club beckoning, next summer.
The former Barcelona man was an ever present for Arsenal in the Premier League during the 2016/17 campaign, scoring 24 goals and laying on 10 assists. There was a belief among the club's management that the arrival of Lacazette would be the signal of ambition that Sanchez had been demanding earlier in the year and would convince him that the club was moving in the right direction.
Lacazette's arrival was hoped to convince Sanchez that the club were moving in the right direction. Image: PA
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It now appears that it has simply triggered Sanchez into wanting the club to spend even more money, starting with his pay packet.
Should Arsenal refuse to budge over the Chilean's wage demands, Manchester City will be waiting in the wings, with manager Pep Guardiola keen on reuniting with the forward he took to the Camp Nou from Udinese, in 2011.
(H/T Metro)
Topics: Football, Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal