Arsenal Transfer News: Alexis Sanchez Targeted by Juventus, Top Gunners Rumours

Juventus are reportedly eyeing Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez this summer as they seek to secure a replacement for Alvaro Morata. 

After it was confirmed by Real Madrid on Tuesday that the Liga club would be activating Morata’s buyback clause, Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) stated Juventus’ hunt for a new forward has already begun. Lazio’s Keita Balde Diao has been linked, but the “primary option” is said to be Sanchez.

It’s suggested Arsenal value the Chile international at around €55 million (£42.2 million) and Juventus would be able to put €30 million (£23 million) towards a deal after the sale of Morata. Sanchez is said to be “frustrated” at Arsenal not challenging for the major honours.

The Emirates Stadium club would surely prefer to keep hold of Sanchez this summer. As these numbers from OptaJoe illustrate, he has become a hugely important part of their attacking setup:

Since signing from Barcelona in July 2014, Sanchez has certainly added something refreshing to the Gunners.

Not only is he extremely dangerous with the ball at his feet in the final third, he has an infectious enthusiasm for the game that few in the Premier League can match. The 27-year-old never gives opponents an inch, a trait that Arsenal lacked before he joined.

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Sanchez helped the Gunners to an FA Cup win in his first season at the club, but they fell short in all competitions they challenged for last term. By contrast, Juventus have won five successive Serie A titles, and with Miralem Pjanic already acquired for next season, they seem to be building a side ready to go far in the UEFA Champions League too.

However, Arsenal seem to be keen on making a few statements themselves. As noted by journalist Liam Canning, in Granit Xhaka they already seem to have landed a brilliant talent:

Sanchez has experience in Italy having shone for Udinese previously, and he may be enticed by the project at Juventus. However, it’d be a huge surprise for the Gunners to sanction the sale of such an important player unless they were to be in receipt of an extraordinary amount.

While Morata will join Real Madrid again, speculation has raged about where he could end up next season should Los Blancos opt to move him on.

According to John Cross of the Daily Mirror, the Gunners will not be in the hunt for the player due to the staggering £60 million valuation placed on him by the European champions.

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“It [the valuation] has already scared off Arsenal, who believe that is way too much, and it could leave a straight fight between Manchester United and Chelsea,” added Cross.

Morata is showing his qualities on the big stage at the moment with three goals for Spain at the 2016 UEFA European Championship. However, Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez was far from impressed with his performance in the 2-1 loss to Croatia on Tuesday despite putting La Roja ahead:

Indeed, while goals have flowed for Morata recently in national-team colours, they weren’t frequent in Serie A last term, with just seven netted in total. The 23-year-old found himself behind the likes of Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic in the pecking order in Turin, and while there were brilliant bursts from him, he wasn’t as consistent as he was in his debut campaign at the club.

Here is a look at the kind of quality that Morata would potentially bring to any side willing to spend big on his signature:

The Spaniard has a lot of traits that Arsenal fans have been craving. Morata is a multifaceted forward, quick across the ground, strong in the air and has a high work rate; he also has a handy knack for netting in crucial contests. But for £60 million it’d be understandable if the Gunners pursued other options.

For that kind of price a team should be expecting a true goalscorer and someone who’s very close to the finished article. Morata does have what it takes to become a world-class talent, but he’s still some way off at the moment.