Sanchez is indispensable for the Gunners this season, so they really cannot afford to let him leave.
Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal need to make Alexis Sanchez their highest paid player in order to keep him at the Emirates Stadium for the long term, the Evening Standard reports.
The Chilean superstar maintained his inspirational form with a 14-minute hat-trick as Arsene Wenger’s turned on the style in the final stages of Saturday’s 5-1 win against West Ham at the London Stadium, netting one of the most delightful goals of the season as he delicately chipped the ball over an advancing Darren Randolph.
Sanchez was equally fantastic against Bournemouth the weekend prior (below), scoring twice to ensure a below-par Arsenal secured a smash and grab 3-1 victory, with the former Barcelona star’s ability to drag his teammates to victory proving essential as the Gunners maintain pace with Chelsea and Liverpool at the top of the table.
However, Sanchez’s contract is due to expire in just 18 months with negotiations remaining at an impasse due to his demands of £200,000-per-week, according to the Express.
And Ferdinand believes Arsenal should give in to their talisman’s demands with the 27-year-old likely to hold the keys to any potential title charge.
“If he comes in and says ‘I want to be your top paid player’ then they can’t argue,” Ferdinand said in quotes reported by the Evening Standard.
“He’s had the opportunity to go to a team that was winning [Barcelona] and it didn’t quite happen for him.
“Here he’s the main man, the talisman, the kingpin and he might want that for his ego.”
Sanchez has scored 13 times in 19 appearances this season, with Wenger’s decision to shift him into a centre-forward position paying dividends.
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