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Pep Guardiola discusses moves for Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez and Celtic's Moussa Dembele
PEP GUARDIOLA has dismissed reports suggesting Manchester City have approached Alexis Sanchez.
Pep Guardiola has denied suggestions that he wants to sign Alexis Sanchez and Moussa Dembele
Sanchez, 27, has been in scintillating form for Arsenal this season, scoring 11 goals in 14 appearances to help fire Arsene Wenger's side to second place in the Premier League table.
The Chile international has 18 months left on his contract but is apparently holding out for parity with the Premier League's biggest earners in order to extend his stay at the Emirates.
It is claimed Alexis Sanchez wants his wage to match up with the £290,000-a-week that Paul Pogba picks up at Manchester United.
Alexis Sanchez wants a bumper £290,000-a-week deal to stay at Arsenal
Manchester City are one of few clubs who can afford to meet these demands and Chilean newspaper El Mercurio claim Pep Guardiola has attempted to persuade Sanchez to move to City.
But the Spaniard has vigorously denied suggestions that he has been in contact with Sanchez - who he worked alongside at Barcelona.
"Absolutely false," Guardiola said ahead of his side's Champions League clash against Celtic.
Celtic striker Moussa Dembele has been attracting interest from the Premier League
"The journalist is a liar. He's a liar. Alexis Sanchez would fit in any team in the world."
Guardiola has also baulked at suggestions that he is interested in signing Celtic striker Moussa Dembele, who scored twice in the 3-3 Champions League draw in September.
"If you read the newspapers in the last six months, since I became a coach at Manchester City, maybe I have had contact with 126 players to buy for Manchester City.
"Dembele is another one. Every week I have contact for the next season to change players. Alexis was the last one."