Arsenal Transfer News: Alexis Sanchez in Mario Mandzukic, Juventus Swap Rumours

Juventus are reportedly ready to offer striker Mario Mandzukic to Arsenal as part of a swap deal in their attempts to bring former Udinese and Barcelona sensation Alexis Sanchez back to Italy's top flight next year. 

Italian outlet CalcioMercatoWeb reported (h/t James Cambridge of the Daily Express) the Turin giants are ready to offload the Croatia international if it means landing Sanchez in return.

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As Cambridge noted, Arsenal are locked in contract negotiations with their attacking superstar, who is said to be seeking a "hefty" hike on his current £130,000-per-week salary.

Sanchez has become a critical part of manager Arsene Wenger's XI since arriving at the Emirates Stadium in 2014, and he stated his importance in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League:

However, talks over a new deal have been complicated following reports Sanchez wants to have a buyout clause inserted into his contract, per Cambridge, suggesting he sees himself leaving the club at some point.

That being said, the Chile international took to his official Instagram account after bagging against PSG with an apparent statement of his commitment to the Gunners cause:

Mandzukic has been a success for Juve since arriving at the club from Atletico Madrid in 2015, netting 13 goals in 39 games for the Bianconeri, but Gonzalo Higuain's arrival at the club in the summer has created fierce competition.

It looks likely the Argentina international could form a partnership alongside compatriot Paulo Dybala when fully fit, leaving Mandzukic as something of a fringe figure if that is to be the case.

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Calciomercato.com reported in August that Juventus had said Mandzukic was "not for sale," but those parameters might change if the Serie A titleholders were able to lure Sanchez in exchange.

OptaPaolo recently pointed out just how important a player Mandzukic has been under manager Massimiliano Allegri in 2016, although Higuain's addition is likely to see such numbers diminish:

Cambridge added Wenger is an admirer of Mandzukic, 30, and that despite signing striker Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna over the summer, more competition for Olivier Giroud may be required in north London.

The desire to sign another frontman may not outweigh the club's wishes to see Sanchez leave as a result, however, especially when the Juventus hitman offers so little in terms of sell-on value.