Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Alexis Sanchez, N'Golo Kante, Top Rumours

Arsenal reportedly face a race against time to sign forward Alexis Sanchez to a new contract amid interest from Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain. But the Gunners will be encouraged by Leicester City indicating they are prepared to lose midfield workhorse N'Golo Kante this summer.

Before looking at adding new faces, Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger will be anxious to ensure Sanchez doesn't leave for the French top flight. AS (h/t Joe Short of the Daily Express) has suggested Sanchez expects a new contract as PSG think about a bid to help offset the potential loss of talisman centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (h/t Charles Perrin of the Daily Express).

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

The same reports also stated exactly what the Gunners need to offer to keep Sanchez in the fold: "Sanchez is said to be happy at Arsenal and negotiations should end with him signing a £180,000-a-week deal."

Losing Sanchez would be a major blow for a squad heavily reliant on his match-winning qualities. Specifically, the former Barcelona man's pace, perceptive movement and stylish finishing can decide any game.

Sanchez is the one player in Wenger's team opponents have to fear.

Keeping Sanchez and building the right supporting cast around him should be Wenger's priority. It's not something he's managed consistently.

Despite a blistering debut season, during which he scored 25 goals, Sanchez has struggled at times in his second campaign. Injuries and a hefty workload, including international duty at the Copa America last summer, have contributed to those problems.

Sanchez even recently admitted that a fear of aggravating injury has held him back, per Premier League World (h/t Alex Sharp of MailOnline).

But the bigger issue has been surrounding Sanchez with the right fellow attackers. He looks most out of sorts when partnered with target man Olivier Giroud up front.

Giroud's penchant for hogging the middle and the inside left puts him in the areas Sanchez does his best work. The result is the South American spending too much time on the flank.

But since Wenger introduced Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi to the starting XI, Sanchez has looked a different player. He's in the middle more often and has rediscovered his creative and scoring touch.

Sanchez scored and provided an assist in the recent 4-0 Premier League win over Watford. The 27-year-old also supplied the opening goal in a 2-0 away win over Everton.

IAN KINGTON/Getty Images

Keeping Sanchez as the focal point of Arsenal's forward line will be crucial for Wenger this summer. He must tie down a new deal before moving for reinforcements.

Kante Chance Exists

One reinforcement many would welcome is Kante. The linchpin of league leaders Leicester City, Kante could actually move on this summer, something that would alert the Gunners and other interested parties.

Adrian Kajumba of the Daily Mirror recently reported how "Leicester expect to lose one of Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante this summer."

Kajumba also identified the growing list of suitors keen on Kante: "The 25-year-old's tireless displays have made him a target for Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Italian champions Juventus."

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

There's no doubt Kante would instantly transform Arsenal's midfield. He'd give Wenger the type of energetic powerhouse the Frenchman's best squads once boasted in abundance, midfielders such as Patrick Vieira, Gilberto Silva, Edu and Ray Parlour.

As a former Caen product signed for just £5.6 million by Leicester, per Kajumba, Kante also represents the type of astute, bargain signing Wenger used to specialise in. That was in the days before increasing fan pressure and a growing bank balance encouraged the Gunners boss to abandon his core philosophy in the transfer market.

Kante won't come at a bargain fee any more. But his qualities would be so important at Arsenal, this is one time when Wenger could feel justified splashing the cash.

Of course, that's assuming he doesn't already have complete faith in French destroyer Francis Coquelin and Egyptian pass-master Mohamed Elneny. The duo are currently manning the middle for the Gunners and doing an expert job.

AFCStuff recently detailed how much more solid Arsenal have been with two deep-lying players in place:

Yet despite their effectiveness, few supporters would bemoan Wenger adding another defensive-minded midfielder. It helps that Kante has seemed open to a move.

He recently indicated as much during an interview with Sky Sports (h/t Jacob Murtagh of the Daily Mirror): "I will fight for Leicester this season and next season we never know and we will see."

Signing Kante would represent a coup for under-pressure Wenger, especially if he misses out on another midfield target.

Doubts Growing Over Granit Xhaka Deal

German newspaper SportBild (h/t Uche Amako of the Daily Express) has poured cold water on reports suggesting Arsenal will sign Borussia Monchengladbach's deep-lying playmaker Granit Xhaka.

In fact, another Premier League club is showing more interest than the Gunners: "Liverpool are the only club to speak to the 23-year-old, but that took place in November."

This follows a semi-denial from Wenger when asked about his interest in the Switzerland international at his latest press conference, per the club's official site: "We are starting to look at people who can strengthen our squad but we are not on any particular case in a concrete way."

These claims contradict those recently made by Sky Germany (h/t Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports News) suggesting talks were ongoing:

Missing out on Xhaka wouldn't be a blow if Wenger is confident in the Elneny and Coquelin partnership for next season. But signing a proven Premier League-ready battler like Kante would improve confidence among supporters that the Gunners can be more credible players in next season's title race.