Real Madrid Transfer News: Alexis Sanchez, Jese Plan Hatched Amid Arsenal Crisis

Real Madrid could allow Jese Rodriguez to head to Arsenal in January as part of a plan to land Gunners star Alexis Sanchez next summer.

According to Spanish outlet Don Balon (h/t James Phillips of the Daily Star), Real are monitoring the Chilean and Arsenal's current injury crisis, with Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain among those out.    

The report indicated Los Blancos are prepared to offer striker Jese to Arsenal to ease their situation, with the view to hopefully sign Sanchez in a deal worth at least £35 million at the end of the season—likely more even with Jese thrown into the mix.

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

The 26-year-old has been a revelation since arriving at the start of last season, scoring 34 goals and assisting 18 in 72 appearances for the Gunners. Nine of those strikes have come in this campaign, while he has also created six in all competitions.

Football writer Miguel Delaney hailed Sanchez for his role in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Manchester United in October:

As Phillips noted, speculation is continuing to surround Real's current forward options because of Karim Benzema's ongoing legal issues regarding his alleged involvement in a blackmail scandal, while Cristiano Ronaldo has been heavily linked with a return to United or a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Gareth Bale hasn't been immune to the exit rumours either, with Simon Bejard of French outlet Buzz Sport (h/t Metro's Mark Brus) reporting he might also be departing next summer.

Sanchez, therefore, would make an outstanding replacement for any one of the three if they should indeed leave the Bernabeu, and he certainly fits the bill as a Galactico-style player.

As for Arsenal, even without their injury crisis, another forward would be a highly useful acquisition in January as they seek to maintain their title challenge, in which they are facing stiff competition from the Red Devils and Manchester City.

Jese is a promising young talent. But the 22-year-old's record of 14 goals in 65 appearances for Real isn't indicative of a player who is likely to have an instant impact at the Emirates Stadium, nor is he currently good enough to play a key role in helping them secure one of the Gunners' most crucial players.

If Real want to soften up Arsenal to secure Sanchez, they will need to offer a ready-made top-class talent—at least the quality of Isco or indeed one of their potentially outgoing stars.

Further, Sanchez's past as a Barcelona player could see him turn down any prospective move to Madrid out of loyalty to his former team anyway.