Mikel Arteta has turned down Alexis Sanchez's request to return to Arsenal in the summer transfer window, according to reports. Sanchez spent four years with the Gunners where he scored 80 goals from 166 appearances before moving to Manchester United in 2018, but he struggled significantly for consistency which saw him find the back of the net on just five occasions from 45 games for the Old Trafford club.
At both Inter and Marseille, the 34-year-old has been able to discover some of the goal scoring form he showed at Emirates Stadium, but his immediate future for the 2023/24 season is unclear. After scoring 18 goals from 44 appearances during his first season in France, Chilean journalist Jose Tomas Fernandez Pumarino claimed that Marseille had offered Sanchez a new contract.
That same report then went on to reveal that the Gunners could potentially try and bring him back to north London if he doesn't sign a new deal with the Ligue 1 club. A new report has revealed some truth to those claims, except the roles have been reversed, with Sanchez as the one pushing for a reunion.
According to Chilean newspaper La Tercera, via Daily Mail, Sanchez called Arteta directly but did not get the answer he was looking for. It has been claimed Arteta gave a ‘direct’ response to Sanchez request reportedly informing him he does not fit into the club’s plans, with younger players preferred.
Given the strong summer interest from Arsenal in Declan Rice, 24, and now Romeo Lavia, 19, that requirement for a transfer to Arsenal has been backed up. A return for Sanchez would be a fitting story, but he simply just does not fit the mould of an Arteta signing.
Although an attacking addition may be seen as a luxury, with the focus clearly on other positions, the Gunners could still further bolster their front line. Chelsea star Kai Havertz is the main target to potentially fill that void with a second bid being prepared after an opening offer was rejected.
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football.london understands that the Gunners have a genuine interest in Havertz, but are not willing to reach the reported £70 million valuation set by Chelsea. On the player side, the 24-year-old is open to an Arsenal transfer with personal terms looking highly unlikely to be an issue.
Bayern Munich are another team chasing Havertz but Sky Germany are now reporting that an agreement with Arsenal over a deal for Havertz is "close".
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