Arsenal Transfer News: Alexis Sanchez, Miralem Pjanic Swap Reported, Top Rumours

Juventus are set to offer Miralem Pjanic in exchange for Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez. 

That's according to Italian outlet Tuttosport (h/t ESPN.co.uk), with the Bianconeri hoping the Chilean can form a world-class front three alongside Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala.

ItaliaCalcio24 shared the newspaper's cover:

Juve sporting director Beppe Marotta would ideally prefer not to swap the midfielder for Sanchez, but in the unlikely event Arsenal would allow him to leave, offering a player of Pjanic's quality would go a long way to softening the blow of the forward's departure.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international would not be a like-for-like replacement for Sanchez, but he would make an outstanding long-term replacement for Santi Cazorla.

Like the Spaniard, the 26-year-old is a cultured and creative presence in midfield whose distribution can help dictate the tempo of a game.

Pjanic has completed 90 minutes on just seven occasions for Juventus since his arrival in the summer, but he's shown some exceptional form. In 22 outings overall, he's already produced seven goals and nine assists.

According to Squawka, only Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have created more chances in the league than Pjanic this season in Arsenal's squad, but it's worth noting the Bianconeri star has spent far less time on the pitch.

Here he is compared with Arsenal's top creators:

	Pjanic	Sanchez	Ozil	Alex Iwobi
Minutes Played	1,042	1,783	1,504	968
Total Chances Created	36	56	47	21
Chances Created per 90 mins	3.11	2.83	2.81	1.95

Indeed, laying on goals is one of Pjanic's specialities along with his pinpoint accuracy from free-kicks, per Squawka Football:

The midfielder would be a top signing for virtually any side, but it's still far from guaranteed that Arsenal would entertain the sensational offer if it was made, such is Sanchez's importance to the side.

Sanchez has gone some way to filling the Gunners' need for a world-class, prolific goalscorer this season, notching 16 goals and 13 assists already in all competitions.

His form has also attracted attention from Premier League rivals Chelsea, who are considering him as a potential replacement for Diego Costa if he leaves Stamford Bridge, according to the Mirror's Darren Lewis.

The forward is perhaps equally important to Arsenal because of the mentality he brings to the squad. The Times' Henry Winter recently hailed his drive to succeed:

Such a trait isn't found so readily among the rest of the Gunners squad, and without Sanchez driving them forward, it's difficult to imagine them challenging for the Premier League title.

Chelsea in particular will struggle to prise him away from the Emirates Stadium—Arsenal would be loath to allow him to join their rivals—but even the unlikely offer of a star like Pjanic may not be enough to tempt them into letting him go.