Arsenal are having a hard time tying down their Chilean midfielder Alexis Sanchez to a new contract, and things have been further complicated by interest from China.
The 28-year-old currently earns £130,000 a week in wages, with his current contract running till the summer of 2018. The Gunners want him to commit his long term future to the club, but Sanchez is reported to be asking for a substantial rise in his pay package to agree to stay at the club.
Sanchez wants to be the highest earning player at the club, as per the reports. Arsenal are reportedly willing to offer £180,000 a week, but it has recently been revealed that both Sanchez and another key player in Mesut Ozil want parity in payment with Paul Pogba at Manchester United.
The Frenchman earns a whopping £290,000 a week, and these demands may prove unfeasible for Arsenal. Things have now been further complicated by interest from the big spending Chinese Super League.
Agents from several Chinese clubs have approached Sanchez’ agents and have offered the Chilean a £400,000 a week pay package, according to the Mirror. This would be above and beyond Sanchez’ demands and leave Arsenal in a helpless position should Sanchez choose to leave for better pay.
A number of top European clubs have been on high alert because of Sanchez’ prolonged contract negotiations with Arsenal. However even they may not have the financial might to match up to the Chinese Super League offer.
Chinese clubs are mostly known for snapping up players who are beyond their prime, or even good players from the mid-level clubs in Europe. However they have made some statement signings in the past when Colombian striker Jackson Martinez and Liverpool target Alex Teixeira both opting to move to China despite being hot property in Europe.
The move for Sanchez could be the biggest coup of them all though. The 28-year-old is still in the prime of his career and has already played for two big European clubs in Barcelona and Arsenal. The Chilean has been a terror for Premier League defences this season, notching up a whopping 11 goals and four assists in 14 Premier League appearances.
It remains to be seen if he is tempted by the Chinese offer enough to wind down his contract at Arsenal and leave on a free transfer in 2018.
