Ornstein -- "As others report #MCFC Sanchez bid over. Conditional agreement reached £55m+£5m but #AFC needed replacement. Lemar said no so Sanchez stays"

Well that's not going to help. Pretty sure Sanchez won't think much of us agreeing terms but then not being able to find a replacement.

If we're smart we'd offer Alexis a big pay rise to extend his deal by a year and then put in a 50m release clause or something. Allows him to leave in a year while not losing out on 8m odd.

So effectively, we have 3 players who don't want to play for us anymore, but will be starting for us.

Awesome.

I think more or less the entire starting eleven would rather be somewhere else at this stage.

Honestly, I wouldn't miss any of them besides Laca/Kola (presumably, we'll see) and Ramsey (think a good manager could make him useful). Everyone else is either not that good or past their prime.

We're idiots if we don't sell Alexis. He doesn't want to be here and will not be committed since he'll be a free agent this summer. 70m is really, really useful, even moreso if Wenger gets sacked after 7 straight losses this autumn.

MistaT wrote:

Ornstein -- "As others report #MCFC Sanchez bid over. Conditional agreement reached £55m+£5m but #AFC needed replacement. Lemar said no so Sanchez stays"

Well that's not going to help. Pretty sure Sanchez won't think much of us agreeing terms but then not being able to find a replacement.

In this situation who gives a fuck what he thinks? He's been pushing for a move all summer, as incompetent as the whole things been I don't see how Sanchez could get upset about it.

Exactly, we are obliged to sell him simply because there was a club that bid for him. It came too late, the offer wasn't enough and we didn't have our replacement sorted.

The only good from this window for me is that we have passed on £60 Mn. That's a first for this club, passing on any money, and then that amount?

I'd much rather lose Sanchez for nothing than sell him for a fee that will go into Kroenke's pockets.

Shady wrote:

I'd much rather lose Sanchez for nothing than sell him for a fee that will go into Kroenke's pockets.

Exactly. We're not gonna see that money reinvested so what's the point.

As for Sanchez's happiness, honestly who gives a crap. If he wants to throw a hissy fit he can spend the season on the bench, and then we'll see how attractive he is for other clubs next summer.

Great so a season of watching a frustrated Alexis and half assed efforts from Ozil before they walk off for nothing

Good old Arsenal

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Great so a season of watching a frustrated Alexis and half assed efforts from Ozil before they walk off for nothing

Good old Arsenal

At least we wont have to watch Ox be shit for another year. Silver lining there.

TomasCR wrote:

He wasn't happy last season either and still was by far our most productive player by the end of last season. Sanchez will be fine and then will find himself a new great club with good wages, that is how it works anyway. It's more about what we will do this time next year than how will Sanchez play. Hopefully it will be without Wenger and a new team will be built by then.

I'm not so sure about that.

Most of his productivity came about when he still gave a shit and was scowling after our poor team performances before the training ground bust-up in February. After being sanctioned by the club, he smiled more but put in half-arsed (unSanchez-like) performances for 8 games in a row till after the horror show that was our 2-nil derby defeat.

The same moody Sanchez carried us to F.A Cup glory with his semi final and final goals against City and Chelsea. Even if he sulks, he'll produce more than anyone else we have or could attract.

Bold Tone wrote:

TomasCR wrote:

...

...

... [font=Impact]for 8 games in a row till[/font] after ... our 2-nil derby defeat.

Shady wrote:

The same moody Sanchez carried us to F.A Cup glory with his semi final and final goals against City and Chelsea. Even if he sulks, he'll produce more than anyone else we have or could attract.

You clearly did not fully comprehend [font=Impact]that sentence[/font].

True. Still think Sanchez himself can't afford to go into the season without giving his all in every game as this "give all" actually is what makes him the player he is and why we accept this "losing every other ball dribbling into a player" he is very good at, because a moment later his determination and desire can win us a game; take that away and you have a Joel Campbell who will hardly get a brilliant contract elsewhere this time next year. Think he will be fine once he soon realizes he has to be.

A down season from Alexis won't harm his prospects at all. He's free to negotiate in January, and everyone understands his first priority is not to injure himself. His performance until now speaks for itself.

You'd be a fool to expect another season like last from him.

Hey Alexis

A down season and being on the cusp of 30 might secure him a berth at Liverpool next season.

I don't think he's as self serving and pathetic as to hold back or sulk about for the season.

I'm more curious about Özil at this stage.

More from Ornstein

Ornstein on BBC5LIVE: "Alexis has told his friends and those close to him that his move to City was done."

Few reports that he's devastated.