Former Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez has been linked with a return to north London as attention turns towards the summer transfer window following the Gunners' faltering Premier League title challenge.
Sanchez left the Emirates Stadium to join Manchester United back in January 2018 but the forward struggled for form at Old Trafford, scoring just five times in 45 appearances for the Red Devils. The Chile star has since got his career back on track, enjoying a solid spell with Serie A giants Inter Milan before joining Ligue 1 outfit Marseille last summer.
Now, Chilean journalist Jose Tomas Fernandez Pumarino has reported that Marseille have offered Sanchez a new contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the current campaign, with Arsenal's transfer officials also having been alerted over potentially bringing him back to the club.
With that in mind, football.london's Arsenal writers discuss whether or not the proposal is worth considering for Edu or if the rumour should be filed under the yearly 'Eden Hazard to Chelsea return' reports.
Kaya Kaynak - Arsenal writer
Obviously no. Alexis Sanchez has said that he wanted to come back to Arsenal a day after leaving for Manchester United. The feeling was definitely not mutual.
Sanchez has not been the same player since he left Arsenal. When he was at the Emirates he was full of energy, intensity and most importantly goals. Now he has none of that.
He would also violate the fragile ecosystem of a squad that Mikel Arteta has created at London Colney. There's a reason that the likes of Rob Holding have been allowed to stay while Shkodran Mustafi was bombed out almost instantly.
There isn't a planet in the Milky Way in which Arsenal should consider touching Sanchez with a bargepole. Cover that bargepole in anti-bac and you still wouldn't be clean of the stink such a decision would kick up.
The past is the past for a reason. Let's keep it that way.
Tom Canton - Arsenal writer
The return of Alexis Sanchez might be my rumour of the summer and it’s only May… The Chilean has been revived in France and Marseille would be fools to lose him after his 14 league strikes.
Arsenal’s sights this summer are all about closing the gap to Manchester City through reinforcement over replacement. Alexis is neither of those things and frankly would be a drain on finances better spent on a young forward who can give Mikel Arteta everything else he needs in a centre-forward.
Everyone strengthened in the summer of 2022 but it was Arsenal who widened the gap to their now former top-four rivals. How? Through being smart and assured with their business; two words which simply are not associated with a move for Alexis Sanchez in 2023.
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Arsenal Writer
Alexis Sanchez back to Arsenal? Absolutely no chance! It really must be a sign that the summer transfer window will soon be in full swing if this is one of the early rumours. I would expect something a lot more creative in all honesty, but the Chilean returning to the Emirates Stadium is not it.
That's nothing against Alexis as he was brilliant for the Gunners between 2014 and January 2018. It can be argued that he's never been the same since joining Manchester United and you can perhaps make a case that he has unfinished business in N5.
But it would be the worst decision on Arsenal's behalf. Signing Sanchez doesn't bridge the gap to Manchester City - even if he does have a winning mentality - he doesn't really improve the squad all that much, his wage demands could be an issue and quite frankly the club could invest money wisely elsewhere.
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