Liverpool Transfer News: Alexis Sanchez Reportedly Wants Barcelona Exit
Alexis Sanchez reportedly wants to secure a move to the Premier League, providing Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal the chance to snap up Barcelona's highly regarded forward.
Sanchez has helped Chile to victories over Australia and Spain at the World Cup, scoring in the first match and ensuring he is set to be a much-wanted man during the summer. He endured a frustrating season with Barcelona, in which he made just 27 La Liga starts, per WhoScored.com, and is reportedly looking to exit.
The information comes from Spanish radio station Cope, which credits Chilean journalist Rodrigo Norambuena with the news. According to 101 Great Goals, Norambuena reports that Sanchez "has a bad relationship with Lionel Messi."
Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star also indicates the trio of aforementioned Premier League clubs are joined by Juventus in a race for the player who is "fed up with playing second-fiddle" to Messi at the Camp Nou. Liverpool and Manchester United are said to be "leading the charge" for his signature.
Sanchez appears built for a successful run in England. His time with Barcelona has seen the versatile star score plenty of excellent goals, provide crucial assists and help intensify the Blaugrana's play when extra zest is needed.
However, the 25-year-old craves freedom to offer his full array of skills. He isn't afforded the chance to roam with Barca and is forced to mostly stick to the wing, whereas Messi plays between the lines at his own will.
Sanchez is perhaps too direct to ever become a complete success at Barcelona—he loves to dribble beyond opponents with pace and a sense of risk rather than keeping the ball tiki-taka style—meaning he could become the star attraction elsewhere. Liverpool, and indeed Brendan Rodgers, appear to offer the right fit for what the player wants.
Rodgers is known for deploying versatile players. He trusts individuals to develop multifaceted games and prefers to snap up talent who can comfortably fulfill an array of duties. His use of Raheem Sterling on the wing and in central areas highlights a manager who wants his stars to express themselves without being consigned to a regimented system.
Despite hitting patches of inconsistency last season, Sanchez still racked up 19 goals and 10 assists across 44 appearances in La Liga and the Champions League. He is the main attraction of Jorge Sampaoli's Chile side and has proven himself to be a leader at a World Cup in which many onlookers will have grown fond of a team they used to overlook.
James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo suggests such an emergence could alter his transfer fee:
There is no doubt Sanchez would be a marquee signing for any club in the world. Liverpool have already offered £25 million for Adam Lallana, per Richard Jolly of ESPN FC, highlighting the fact that Rodgers has the funds to make at least one major signing. He should go all-out for Barcelona's unwanted player, who offers the same type of pace, technique and incision as Luis Suarez.
Failure to sign Sanchez could come back round to haunt the Reds, especially if one of their English rivals stump up the cash. It's not often such a quality player is said to be so readily available, suggesting Rodgers should go for broke while he can.
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