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5 replacements for Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez

By Andrew Bernucca

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Alexis Sanchez’s time at Arsenal appears to be coming to a close. Here are five players the Gunners could sign to replace the Chilean.

Alexis Sanchez’s contract at Arsenal expires in the summer, and a move to Manchester appears to be coming. Pep Guardiola pursued the Chilean last summer, and City and Arsenal even agreed on a fee with a net value of £60 million but the deal fell through because the Gunners weren’t left with enough time to finalize a deal for Sanchez’s replacement, Monaco’s Thomas Lemar.

With the January transfer window open, City are prepared to make an offer in the range of £20 million to sign Sanchez now instead of getting him for free in the summer. Waiting would certainly be cheaper, but Guardiola could use the extra squad depth now.

Gabriel Jesus’s medial collateral ligament injury has him sidelined for two months. Guardiola wants to make sure he has enough players to be able to adequately rotate his squad, which would increase his chances of winning multiple competitions this season.

However, Sanchez is still Arsenal’s best player. He has seven goals and three assists on the season. When you factor that into the clubs lengthy injury list, which includes Laurent Koscielny, Sead Kolasinac, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud (surprisingly not Jack Wilshere, knock on wood) it’s easy to see why Arsene Wenger may choose to keep Sanchez for the rest of the season instead of letting him leave now. Even if it does cost the club £20 million.

Whether Sanchez leaves in this window or the next, though, Arsenal will have to replace him. Here are five players that could help the fanbase move on from the Sanchez saga.

TOULOUSE, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 3: Thomas Lemar of France during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between France and Luxembourg at the Stadium on September 3, 2017 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
TOULOUSE, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 3: Thomas Lemar of France during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between France and Luxembourg at the Stadium on September 3, 2017 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /

Thomas Lemar, Monaco

He was the replacement Wenger had his eyes on in the summer so it’s likely he’s the replacement he has his eyes on now. The 22-year-old French star is as scintillating as ever, and with room to grow. Lemar has two goals and four assists in 12 starts for Monaco this season and truly has it all.

Lemar has pace, can take players on, pass and shoot. What Wenger would love most about him and what he desperately needs is his versatility. Lemar has made 11 of his 16 appearances as a left midfielder or wide left midfielder for Monaco, but his best performances have come as an attacking center midfielder which is primarily where Sanchez has played for Arsenal this season. This might be as close as the Gunners get to a perfect Sanchez replacement.

The fee that was agreed for Lemar in the summer was £92 million, but that was with the support of Sanchez’s fee of £60 million. Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim said Lemar could leave this month, but it’s likely the club’s asking price hasn’t change. Are Arsenal willing to splash the cash?

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