Arsenal Reportedly Set £50M Alexis Sanchez Fee Amid Chelsea Transfer Rumours

A bid of £50 million will reportedly be needed to prise Alexis Sanchez away from Arsenal this summer, with rivals Chelsea said to be interested in landing the forward. 

According to Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror, the Gunners have named their price for the Chilean, who has been the subject of massive transfer speculation with his contract set to expire in just over a year. Despite no movement on a new deal, it's noted by Lewis that Arsenal will not budge on their massive valuation of the 28-year-old.

Chelsea are cited as one of the clubs keen to take Sanchez off Arsenal's hands. According to Lewis, the Blues "will make their move once—as is now expected—it becomes clear he does not intend to extend his stay at the Emirates [Stadium]."

It was reported on Tuesday by Fabrizio Romano of the Guardian Chelsea had made Sanchez their top target this summer. 

Losing Sanchez to anyone would be an enormous blow to Arsenal, but him moving across London to join the Premier League leaders would leave an especially bitter taste.

After all, the former Barcelona and Udinese man is a one-player wrecking ball in the final third. It's rare a game goes by involving Sanchez when he doesn't have an impact on it in some way, whether that be in terms of his work rate, his aggression or with a contribution in front of goal.

As Daniel Storey of Football 365 noted as Sanchez represented Chile in FIFA World Cup qualifying on Tuesday, he's a dependable player, too, with injuries rarely sidelining him:

It's why, even if Sanchez wasn't to sign a new contract, Arsenal will feel as though they can dig their heels in and demand such a significant sum from any potential suitors.

Playing a high intensity style of football is in vogue in Europe at the moment and to do so, managers require forwards who can blend an industry out of possession with an intelligence and intricacy with the ball. Those sorts of players are rare in world football, with Barcelona's Luis Suarez perhaps the finest example.

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Sanchez is another one of this rare breed, and for a manager like Conte, who demands aggression and work rate from all his players, he could be a fantastic addition. 

The man himself reminded us on international duty with Chile that he's also adept at conjuring moments of magic, with a stunning free-kick against Venezuela on Tuesday. Per OptaJavier, it was a landmark goal for the Roja forward:

A sale to Chelsea would be a big surprise, but Arsenal selling players to rivals is not unprecedented. Ashley Cole was the last player to move from the Gunners to Chelsea in 2006, although Arsenal have allowed Robin van Persie to join Manchester United, while the likes of Samir Nasri, Emanuel Adebayor and Gael Clichy moved to Manchester City, too.

You sense that in this instance, Arsenal would resist any offer from the Blues, though. At the moment, there is so much uncertainty at the Emirates with manager Arsene Wenger's contract up at the end of the season. Selling Sanchez to Chelsea would do little to appease a disillusioned fanbase.