Arsenal closes down on Barcelona’s Alexis Sánchez

by Guilherme Neto

Alexis Sánchez is Arsenal new signing for 2014-2015

After having signed Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid last summer, Arsenal might be very close to signing another start from the Spanish League, but this time their target is FC Barcelona‘s forward Alexis Sánchez. The news have been all over the Spanish and English press over the last hours and the deal can allegedly go forward if the Gunners are willing to splash a transfer fee around the 35 million euros.

The Chile international has been one of the center figures in Brazil while playing for his national team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but saw his journey being interrupted on the 28th of June, after falling on a penalty shootout decision against the hosts. Alexis left the tournament with 2 goals scored in 4 appearances.

Reports from England and Spain seem to indicate that even though Barcelona are indeed willing to negotiate, they’re still trying to get something more out of this deal than the 35-million euros fee. Looking at the last season, it’s easy to note that Alexis was a very important asset in the team despite not having played as a starter during a few important games of the Barça‘s campaign. Nevertheless, he went through a total 54 appearances, from which he scored 21 goals and delivered 15 assists. Not bad for a player who has always been forced to play on the shadow of the team’s biggest star, Lionel Messi.

If this deal does go through, it would immediately strengthen the theories that Barcelona is really being serious about going after Liverpool‘s Luis Suárez. In England, several newspapers have been pointing out that Arsène Wenger already interrupted his vacations to return to London earlier than it was planned, all in hope of speeding up the process and close the Alexis Sánchez deal as soon as possible.

Sources: telegraph.co.uk / express.co.uk