Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Alexis Sanchez, Sead Kolasinac Rumours

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said the club will not break the bank in their attempt to tie Alexis Sanchez down to a new contract.

According to a report from James Olley of the Evening Standard, the Gunners have offered Sanchez a weekly salary of £300,000 to remain at the Emirates Stadium, with his deal set to expire at the end of next season.

When asked about the reported offer, Wenger said the club can't afford to simply throw money at players, per David Hytner of the Guardian:

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Some people tell me: 'Just give him what he wants.' But then you cannot respect any more any wage structure and you put the club in trouble as well. You have to make the decision in an objective way. The club always has to be the priority. I understand top players are a big priority but, even for important players, you can only pay as much as you can afford.

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Wenger also suggested that having one superstar on much more money than the rest of the squad could have a detrimental effect on morale and that the riches of the Chinese Super League "contributes to the imagination of the players."

Nevertheless, losing Sanchez would be an enormous blow to the Gunners, as he's been the team's standout man this term.

Even so, Liam Twomey of ESPN FC questioned the Chilean's recent PFA Player of the Year nomination:

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Not sure why Alexis Sanchez is on the PFA POTY shortlist when 14 of his 18 goals this season have been scored vs the PL's bottom half #afc

— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) April 13, 2017"

Although the forward's performance levels have dropped a little in recent weeks, for the vast majority of his Arsenal career, he's applied himself tremendously well.

That appetite for the game is what makes Sanchez so key, as at times he can be a one-man strikeforce. According to Hytner, as well as Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, an unspecified club from the Chinese Super League has promised Sanchez £400,000 per week if agrees to sign.

With that interest and those sums considered, if Arsenal are to stand staunchly by their wage structure, there's every chance they'll lose their talisman.

Arsenal Close In on Sead Kolasinac

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According to Fabrizio Romano and Sachin Nakrani of the Guardian, Arsenal have beaten Everton to the signing of Schalke 04 full-back Sead Kolasinac.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international is out of contract at the end of the campaign, meaning he's been free to pen a pre-contract agreement with a new club since January.

It's reported the versatile 23-year-old has opted to make the switch to the Emirates Stadium. AC Milan and Chelsea are also said to have been eyeing Kolasinac.

Although Schalke have endured an inconsistent campaign, the defender has been one of their standout players, typically operating as a wing-back.

Here's what he can offer:

Bleacher Report UK's Lars Pollmann thinks Kolasinac is a fine footballer but noted the differences in approach Kolasinac would have to cope with at the Emirates Stadium:

Still, it's the kind of signing that makes sense for Arsenal, especially given Kolasinac will join on a free transfer. He's young, developing and can offer depth in a number of areas; at left-back in particular, Arsenal have looked a little short with Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs.

Kolasinac has seemed ready to make the step up for some time, and his game is well attuned to the Premier League. The Gunners, as such, may have landed themselves one of the signings of the summer long before the transfer window even opens.