Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil

Alexis Sanchez is reportedly still on the transfer radar of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, with the Citizens able to afford the £50 million fee Arsenal are rumoured to want should they sell their star striker this summer.

Sanchez has less than 18 months left on his current contract with the Gunners and is yet to agree a new deal. His reluctance to ink fresh terms has created a swathe of rumours, with City's name surfacing again due to the player's connection with Guardiola from the time both spent with Barcelona.

Guardiola remains keen to work with Sanchez again, according to James Robson of the Manchester Evening News: "Pep Guardiola is among Sanchez’ biggest admirers - and the 28-year-old is a consideration for Manchester City in a summer in which they will spend in the region of £200m to build a squad capable of providing a genuine challenge to Chelsea."

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Robson conceded things didn't always work well between Guardiola and Sanchez at Barca, but he also says there's reason to believe things would be different at City:

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Arsene Wenger has unearthed his quality as a world class striker - capable of handling the rigours of English football - but it is his versatility that will appeal most to Guardiola.

The City manager has settled on the system he believes will prove most effective in the Premier League - a three-pronged attack with a central striker who is capable of drifting into wide positions or dropping deep.

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Robson concluded Sanchez is an "ideal fit" for Guardiola's City, while also emphasising the Manchester club would have no problem meeting the mooted £50 million asking price. The Daily Mirror's Darren Lewis reported Arsenal will ask for that sum should Sanchez push to leave this summer.

Lewis' report came after Fabrizio Romano of the Guardian revealed how Premier League leaders Chelsea have made Sanchez their prime transfer target this summer.

Those rumours gathered steam after Sanchez did an interview in Chile that appeared to hint he'd be prepared to move to Stamford Bridge. Speaking to reporters at a press event in Santiago (h/t Metro's Sean Kearns), Sanchez said: "I am happy in London and I hope to finish my contract at Arsenal. I want to stay in a winning team and keep playing in the same city."

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However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains convinced Sanchez will stay at the club beyond this season. Wenger's men face City this Sunday in the Premier League, and the Frenchman used his pre-match press conference to restate his belief Sanchez is staying, per Miguel Delaney of The Independent: "I think personally he’s happy here. It’s true that we have not extended his contract yet."

Wenger also made it clear how Arsenal no longer have to sell their best players due to financial pressure, the way they routinely did prior to 2013, per Delaney.

Yet Delaney also noted there is a growing feeling Sanchez will force a move this summer. On one hand, it's easy to see why the Chile star would want to move on after the Gunners went from title contenders to sixth in three months.

Sanchez is facing a third season without a title win. He's also experienced a hat-trick of humbling exits from the UEFA Champions League at the last-16 stage.

Now Arsenal's place in Europe's premier club competition next season looks in doubt, there's even more reasons to believe the club's attacking talisman will want to join a new team.

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However, things may not be quite as clear cut as they appear. Sanchez is a terrific talent, but there's no doubt his game has gone up a level since moving to north London in 2014.

Success may have eluded the Gunners on the team front, but as an individual, Sanchez has progressed. In particular, his performances have been elevated since Wenger moved him through the middle this season.

Sanchez has responded to playing striker with 22 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, according to WhoScored.com. He's the focal point of the Arsenal team, a status he may not enjoy elsewhere.

Mesut Ozil Talks Bundesliga Return

Of course, Sanchez isn't the only mega-star whose Arsenal future is in doubt. Like Sanchez, Mesut Ozil is also yet to agree a new contract, and the Gunners' record signing has recently left the door ajar for a return to the Bundesliga.

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Ozil was speaking to SportBild (h/t Goal's Iain Strachan) and addressed the idea he may once again play in the German top flight: "I don't want to exclude that. Many family members - my mother especially - would welcome it if I were closer to home. I still have a year on my contract and I love this club [Arsenal]. At the moment, everything is still open."

However, just like with Sanchez, Wenger believes Ozil will also stay at the Emirates Stadium, per Sky Sports. Frankly, the idea of Ozil staying may not be as appealing as Sanchez sticking around, though, given the former's inconsistency.

A superbly stylish playmaker when fit, motivated and on form, Ozil can unlock any defence. His astute passing through gaps is vital to the way Wenger wants his team to play, namely quickly and incisively between the lines.

The problem is the 28-year-old can be guilty of going missing in matches, usually big games where he's needed the most. Last month, statistics from Oulala.com and Opta (h/t Metro's Simon Rice) revealed how little Ozil has produced against the Premier League's biggest sides since joining the Gunners for £42.4 million in 2013.

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At his best, Ozil is the classy No. 10 Wenger has usually loved to build teams around. However, his best has been seen too seldom this season. It may be wise for Arsenal to cash in this summer.

Admittedly, the futures of both Sanchez and Ozil are likely to hinge on what Wenger does next. The manager is out of contract this summer and conceded his future "is not sorted completely out," according to BBC Sport.

With so much up in the air for the Gunners, it's easy to see major changes happening this summer. Yet the club's best-case scenario would surely involve retaining their greatest-ever manager along with his two star players.