Apparently Roman Abramovich won’t have far to travel with his chequebook if he is to deliver Antonio Conte his top transfer target.
Conte has identified Arsenal top scorer Alexis Sanchez as his priority when the transfer window opens up this summer.
The Guardian published a story on Tuesday, claiming that the Blues manager had told the club’s recruitment team, headed by director Marina Granovskaia and technical director Michael Emenalo, that Sanchez and a left-sided defender are his main targets.
Sanchez has 15 months remaining on his current contract at the Emirates but there seems to be no sign of him putting pen to paper on an extension, and Conte reportedly wants to take advantage of the Chilean international’s dissatisfaction in North London.
And Sanchez, who has scored 22 goals for the Gunners this season, seems to have flirted back with his suitors.
The player has claimed that he wants to stay in London but wants to play in a team that possesses a winning mentality, and given the struggles of Arsenal in recent years, few are confident that the club will return to the glory years in the foreseeable future.
After announcing that he would like to see out his current deal with Arsenal, Sanchez suggested that he would like to stay in London if he is to then leave the Emirates.
“I am happy in London and I hope to finish my contract there (at Arsenal),” Sanchez told El Grafico.
“I like to stay in a team in the city, but in a team that is a winner, that has a winning mentality.
“I’m 28 years old, I still have a lot ahead of me. I am a player that takes great care of myself.”
