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Pep Guardiola asked about Man City signing Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal make contract offer
PEP GUARDIOLA says now is not the time to discuss signing Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal offer the Chile international a new contract.
Manchester City manager Guardiola (right) has refused to discuss a move for Sanchez
Arsenal have reportedly offered Alexis Sanchez a £300,000-a-week deal to remain at the club.
Sanchez’s contract expires next summer and City - along with Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain - are keen to sign him.
Arsenal may be forced to sell in the summer if Sanchez refuses to sign a new deal as they would not want to lose the 28-year-old on a free transfer 12 months down the line.
Now is not the time to talk about that
But Guardiola put a stop to speculation over City’s interest, insisting he will only address transfers at the end of the current campaign.
"Now is not the time to talk about that,” Guardiola said when asked about Alexis Sanchez.
He was also pushed on the future of Joe Hart, who has been on loan at Torino this season.
“At the end of the season we’ll speak,” he added.
“We follow all the players who are on loan."
Arsenal have reportedly offered Sanchez a new £300,000-a-week contract
Guardiola (right) could raid Arsenal this summer, with Ozil (left) possibly available
According to the London Evening Standard, Sanchez has been offered a new contract after previous talks over a deal collapsed.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists he is relaxed about the situation and that deals will be signed off during the summer.
Sanchez is not the only star player who is at risk of leaving, with Mesut Ozil’s contract having just 15 months remaining as well.
Sanchez blasts teammates for not celebrating Arsenal’s equaliser
Ozil and Sanchez want large pay rises to remain at the Emirates and are also seeking assurances that the north London club will compete for trophies in the coming seasons.
Arsenal’s title challenge once again collapsed over the winter and they are now at risk of not qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
City, meanwhile, will have Guardiola a hefty transfer kitty this summer to further strengthen the squad, while Antonio Conte will also get a cash injection at Chelsea.
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