Despite Arsene Wenger’s staunch commitment to playing hardball with Alexis Sanchez over a potential new contract, the Evening Standard’s James Olley is reporting that the Gunners are willing to break not only their own wage structure but the Premier League’s record for weekly salary with their newest offer to the 28-year-old who looks one foot out the door already.
Today's @standardnews back page
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) April 13, 2017
✅ @JamesOlley exclusive
Arsenal offer Alexis Sanchez £300k-a-week contract
More: https://t.co/66c2Blt0Cr pic.twitter.com/FAzzmLGNWA
Last month, the Guardian reported that a rival club already had tabled a similar offer for Alexis, possibly prompting this desperation move that basically acknowledges that Arsenal have no leverage remaining in this situation.
Olley’s report claims that the £300,000 would represent a 230 per cent increase (!!) in Alexis’s salary and make him the Premier League’s highest ever earner, just beating Paul Pogba’s £290,000 weekly figure at Manchester United. (So Rooney not on £300k then?)
In any case, Alexis’s decision apparently rests on a combination of factors, including but not limited to Wenger’s future, Arsenal’s transfer plans, and whether they even make it back to the Champions League for next season. It’s really not looking promising on any of those fronts, especially compared with rumored destinations Chelsea and Manchester City, so this whole supposed offer simply could be a face-saving exercise from the Gunners as well (season ticket renewals have started, after all).