Manchester City is rumored to be plotting an Alexis Sanchez swoop when the winter transfer window opens in January if the Arsenal forward ends up rejecting a contract renewal with the Gunners this season.
Sanchez and the Gunners are said to be in the process of negotiating for an extension for the 27-year-old Chile international and speculations abound that the two sides have not seen eye-to-eye with the terms of the new contract.
The Chilean gunner's contract at the Emirates Stadium is set to expire at the end of the 2017-2018 season and head coach Arsene Wenger is reportedly "desperate to keep" him with the club moving forward, as per the Daily Express.
However, the former Barcelona standout is demanding a £200,000 weekly wage to "commit his future to the club", which will make him Arsenal's highest-paid player. Sanchez is also said to be expecting the Gunners to "mount a serious challenge for major honors this season and in the future before he agrees to put pen to paper".
Sanchez and his camp also wants to have a release clause included in the new deal, which is rumored to be something that the Holloway, London outfit is not comfortable to add.
With such term and conditions, it looks increasingly clear that Sanchez could head to an exit in January and City manager Pep Guardiola, his former boss in Barça, will be waiting on the other end to sign him.
Caught Offside indicated that the Citizens will "make their move for the in-form Chilean in January if he has not agreed a new Gunners contract by then".
Sanchez was one of Guardiola's top goalscorers during their time together in Catalonia with 12 goals in 25 appearances in the Premier League in 2011-2012, their only season with each other at the Camp Nou.
The report has also noted, though, that Sanchez was actually not Guardiola's first choice as the 45-year-old Spanish mentor is also keen on making a bid for Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Neymar in January.
Guardiola said to have made three meetings with the agents of the two Blaugrana superstars during the recent summer transfer window, but the negotiations had been unfruitful as Messi and Neymar are both keen on staying at the Nou Camp at whatever cost.