Ex Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson does not believe keeping Alexis Sanchez was the correct decision for the Gunners after the club pulled the plug on a £60m deadline day sale to rivals Manchester City.
The Chilean international would have reportedly been sold if the Gunners had signed a replacement before the close of the transfer window but the failure to land Thomas Lemar from Monaco meant the Arsenal forward stayed at the Emirates.
Writing in a column for Skysports.com, Merson said he doesn’t think they will qualify for the Champions League even with Sanchez staying at the club, so the financial incentive to keep the player in order to finish fourth makes little sense:
“I’d have sold Alexis Sanchez all day long. I doubt they’ll get in the top four and they’ll lose the £50m they would have got for him when he leaves for free.”
Sanchez started Chile’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay last night but he could not prevent his country losing 3-0 in a shock home defeat. Chile now find themselves fourth in the South American qualifying behind leaders Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay.
