Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez. (Photo : Getty Images)
Recent rumors have emerged that Italian Serie A side Inter Milan is ready to complete a £69 million summer swoop of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez before the English transfer window closes at the end of the month.
The Daily Express reported that according to local news outlets in Spain, I Nerazzurri has already launched a shock big-money move to sign the Chile international and that Inter wants to "take advantage of Sanchez's stalling contract talks at Arsenal".
Internazionale head coach Frank de Boer, who was recently appointed by the club's new Chinese ownership linked to the Suning Commerce Group, is reportedly a huge fan of Sanchez since his Italy days and would want to bring his goalscoring talent to back to the country this season.
The 27-year-old Tocopilla, Chile native had played in Italy from 2008-2009 to 2010-2011 with Italian top flight squad Udinese before his three-season stint with Barcelona in Spain and now with the Gunners in England.
With the current financial power brought by the Suning group, who are also the owners of Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning that is responsible for the big-money signings of European stars Ramires and Alex Teixeira to the Far East league, Inter is said to be prepared to pay the Gunners £69 million for their prized winger.
Suning is also reportedly ready to make Sanchez the Serie A's highest-paid player this season with an offered salary of £133,000 per week.
Meanwhile, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger admitted last Friday that "there was no update" with regards to the contract extension talks with Sanchez and his other big-name teammate, Mesut Özil, at the moment, but that Arsenal fans should not have anything to worry about.
"We keep that internally and make progress all the time but it is not always a quick process," said Wenger. "They still have two years contract too, there's no urgency as well."
"There's no reason for Arsenal fans to be concerned," the coach added.
Meanwhile, Caught Offside indicated that a deal between the Gunners and Inter is "unlikely" to happen.
However, it "does raise alarm bells for Arsenal" moving forward because if the English side will be "unable to match Sanchez's ambition moving forward and results don't go their way this season" then "they will be under pressure when it comes to contract talks with their top players".
