Arsenal Transfer News: Jesus Navas Interest Emerges Amid Alexis Sanchez Rumours

Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Manchester City winger Jesus Navas, as speculation on the future of Alexis Sanchez intensifies.   

Italian media outlet TuttoMercatoWeb.com (h/t Mark Brus of Metro) claim the Spain international is a target for manager Arsene Wenger, and he could replace Sanchez if the Chile superstar decides to leave the Emirates Stadium.

Navas is desperate for first-team football after operating around the outskirts of City's first team, and he is said to be "a huge fan of Wenger," per Brus. The appreciation is reciprocated from the Gunners coach, and Navas' experience would aid the club's efforts to replace Sanchez in the short term.

Jon Super/Associated Press

The Chilean has been linked with both Manchester United and Real Madrid in recent weeks, with Spanish outlet Don Balon (h/t Brus) proclaiming the Red Devils want to build their side around Sanchez—making him coach Louis van Gaal's "cornerstone" in attack. 

However, Don Balon (h/t James Phillips of the Daily Star) has also claimed Madrid are prepared to sign the player, allowing Jese Rodriguez to move in the opposite direction. 

Arsenal have been hugely reliant on Sanchez since his arrival from Barcelona, and they have overused him, contributing to a hamstring injury picked up against Norwich City in the Premier League.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Gunners legend Thierry Henry questioned Wenger's decision to not rest the player, per Sky Sports (h/t the MailOnline's John Downes):

"

Obviously if you ask Alexis Sanchez if he's OK he's going to say 'yes'. If not, if the guy says 'no', then he might as well leave the club, you're there to play.

[...] But I think you almost don't have to ask him anything if you want to rest him. I personally wouldn't have liked that when I was a player but then you take it on the chin and you see the bigger picture because you want to be out there and play for the whole season.

[...] I'm not a coach, I don't know how it is with all the pressure of players - I know I was a pain in the neck when you take me out in the game - but I thought at the time, the game was won against Dinamo Zagreb; he scored, he had a good game, he didn't get injured, 20 minutes to go, take him out.

"

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

However, it has been difficult for the coach to bench Sanchez when he is so integral to the side. The 26-year-old has scored nine goals and provided five assists in 19 appearances in the Premier League and Europe this season, according to WhoScored.com.

Football writer Miguel Delaney lauded Sanchez for his tremendous performance in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Manchester United in October, as the attacker once again proved why he is one of the most exciting players in world football:

It is likely Arsenal supporters will be underwhelmed with the links to Navas, who has failed to shine brightly in the north-west.

The winger is an excellent auxiliary option for the Sky Blues, but he does not have the pedigree to replace Sanchez, neither providing the goals or assists of a world-class entity. 

If the worst happens for the Gunners, and Sanchez opts to move on, Wenger will have to scour the market for an applicable talent to replace him and not settle for a stopgap capture. 

Navas is not the type of player who will drive Arsenal closer to silverware, and his signing could be a mistake by the north London club if he's expected to fill Sanchez's boots.