Tuesday gossip

City have been linked with a move for Alexis Sanchez throughout the summer.
Only one place to start this morning and that’s with the raft of stories suggesting City will approach Arsenal regarding the availability of Alexis Sanchez.
It’s the story that has run throughout the summer and with just 16 days left of the transfer window, it seems there is still some gas left in the tank.

With upwards of a dozen newspapers and websites leading with the report, we’ll begin with Matt Law in The Telegraph who writes: “Manchester City will make a bid to test Arsenal’s resolve to keep Alexis Sánchez before the transfer window shuts with Pep Guardiola still desperate to add the forward to his squad.

“Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has been adamant that Sánchez will not be sold this summer, despite the Chile international entering the final 12 months of his contract.

“Wenger and Arsenal have also been particularly insistent that Sánchez will not be allowed to join a Premier League rival.

“But that will not stop City, on the instruction of manager Guardiola, trying to tempt Arsenal with a bid of around £60 million before the end of this month.

“City are also prepared to hand Sánchez a contract worth around £400,000 a week, including bonuses and image rights, if they can convince Arsenal to sell."

The Mirror follow a similar theme: “Manchester City will make a huge bid for Alexis Sanchez before the transfer window shuts.

“They are ready to test Arsenal’s resolve to keep Sanchez with a mega offer in excess of £50m as they have not given up on signing the Chile star.

“Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has insisted publicly they will not sell despite Sanchez only having one year left on his current deal.

“Arsenal are also confident now that Sanchez will stay for the final year of his contract - and have not given up on him signing a new deal."

Moving on and the Daily Express suggest that the Blues could still make a move for Saints defender Virgil van Dijk.

Just as City have been linked to Sanchez throughout the current window, so Liverpool have been strongly touted as suitors for the Dutch defender.

But according to The Express, Chelsea and City could yet make a move.

They write: “Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Van Dijk all summer, despite announcing they had ended their interest after Southampton complained to the Premier League about their approach for their player.

“Chelsea have also recently been monitoring the Dutch international's situation at Southampton after he handed in a transfer request last week.

“Southampton are reluctant to sell their star defender just one year after he committed his long-term future to the Saints.

“And Yahoo Sports claim Liverpool have been moved to the back of the queue for Van Dijk’s signature

“It is reported both Chelsea and Manchester City hold the advantage of completing a deal for the 26-year-old.

“But they would have to pay a world record fee for a defender with Southampton not willing to sell for less than £70million."


DANILO: Flexible and able
Finally today, the Daily Star pick up on Danilo’s post-match comments from the weekend as they write: “Danilo admits he doesn’t care where he plays in Manchester City's team.

“The £26.5m summer signing from Real Madrid is known mainly as a right back but made his Premier League bow at left back against Brighton.

‘My aim here is to help the team, and help them get the goals,’ he said. ‘So it doesn’t matter if I’m on the right, the left or in midfield.

‘I prefer the right because it’s my natural leg, and it’s maybe more difficult to play on the left, but I can adapt to both positions.

‘When I started out as a player I used to play in midfield, and I also won the Copa Libertadores with Santos playing as a midfielder.

‘So I am really used to that position even if I haven’t played there much recently – I won’t have a problem playing there again.’

And that’s that for Tuesday...