Manchester City are eyeing up Arsenal’s Alexis Sánchez for Raheem Sterling plus cash – but which club does the deal suit best?
Amid reports that Manchester City have lodged a bid for Arsenal’s Alexis Sánchez, along with winger Raheem Sterling, where will the player cash/incentive leave the two clubs?
For Arsenal, they lose their star player and gain a man who, at 22-years-old, is yet to show the potential all the previous hype seemed to suggest. The gulf in class is there to see and Sánchez scored a mighty 34 goals in 59 appearances for club and country last season to Sterling’s mere 10 in 53.
Yes, it can be argued one is a winger and the other a striker but, when you are playing alongside the array of talents Manchester City have at their disposal, your conversion rate needs to be higher.
After Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s £35million move from Arsenal to Liverpool, Sterling could fill the void left by the Englishman and save them money on his replacement.
However, City in return will obtain a 28-year-old striker who shares the same work rate and ambition they so frantically demand.
Sánchez continues to show he can play at the top level, scoring more than 20 goals in his last four seasons for both Arsenal and Barcelona.
With Sergio Agüero and new signing Gabriel Jesus up top, many may question the need for Sánchez. However, a 4-3-3 formation could be utilised to allow room for the Chilean.
Alongside the attacking credentials of David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, the 28-year-old is destined to perform as he did for Arsenal. He led the line for the Gunners and the signing of Alexandre Lacazette is hardly a direct replacement.
Although, if Arsène Wenger can provide an end-product to Sterling’s game, he could prove a worthy addition. Despite his goal scoring deficiencies, he played a hand in 13 of City’s goals last term – an improvement on the campaign before.
There is room to develop Sterling, whereas Sánchez is already the finished product and City manager, Pep Guardiola, will only need to introduce the frontman to his philosophy, rather than refining his skills.
However, due to Sterling’s youthfulness, Wenger has plenty of time to instil his ideas in the youngster.
While there has been no response from Arsenal regarding the offer, the murmurings may well be enough to sway Sánchez’s head. The question is: would the chance of playing at the Emirates be just as welcoming for Sterling.
