Arsenal round-up: Sanchez bid rejected; Rival club wants Lemar; Takeover interest

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Arsenal have a big task to hold on to Alexis Sanchez this summer as the interest from Manchester City is intensifying. El Mercurio report that Pep Guardiola has already offered £45 million for the Chilean, but it was turned down. The Gunners have made it clear that they don’t want to sell the player this summer, as he was their top scorer last season and it would be a display of weakness to let him move to a rival club.

This saga has been running for the majority of this calendar year and we are still no closer to a decisive outcome. Arsenal are keen to keep him and risk losing him on a free in a year’s time. Although it doesn’t make financial sense, it would be viewed as a strong move by the club, as they wouldn’t be agreeing to his departure. They want to be an elite club and they won’t become one if they continue to sell their best players. It remains impossible to predict how this one will end.

Thomas Lemar has been a priority target for the club this summer, but the Daily Record report that Manchester United are now considering a move for the Monaco attacker. Jose Mourinho wants to add another attacking option to his squad and the latest name on his radar is the 21-year-old. Monaco value him at €60 million and Arsenal have already had numerous bids turned down.

It would be damaging if the Frenchman moved to Old Trafford, as Arsenal have been tracking him for the entire summer. Lemar was viewed as a priority target by Wenger and he has failed to make the transfer happen. This story could motivate the Gunners to make a renewed push for the 21-year-old, as they still need reinforcements if they are to challenge for the title. If the club want to be respected across Europe, they need to land their priority targets. This could become embarrassing for the club if United’s interest if genuine.

Aliko Dangote has expressed an interest in buying Arsenal. Football London report that he is ready to launch a takeover bid and believes he can tempt Stan Kroenke to sell the club. He is Africa’s richest man and has a fortune of around $12.9 billion. The 60-year-old is a big Gunners fan and has never hidden his desire to take control of the club one day.

This story has emerged from nowhere, but it is too soon to get too excited about a takeover. Kroenke has shown no desire to sell and is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. Arsenal fans will be hoping that there is truth to the story, as they have been critical of the club’s lack of ambition under the current ownership.