Ibrahimovic to reject huge Chinese offer
Football Update – THE insane offer Zlatan Ibrahimovic could reject and Arsenal ramps up its Alexis Sanchez while eyeing a big-name recruit. All that and more in Monday’s Rumour Mill!
ZLATAN SET TO SNUB INSANE OFFER
ZLATAN Ibrahimovic has been a revelation at Manchester United this season, scoring 16 goals in his first 25 games for the Premier League club.
Now, he’s set to turn his back on a monster offer from the Chinese Super League in order to stay at Old Trafford.
The Daily Mail reported the Chinese government is willing to bankroll a £120 million offer to entice the Swede to the local league, with the belief the striker would guarantee a huge return both commercially and in terms of exposure.
But Ibrahimovic — who also received overtures from the CSL last year — is believed to be keen to extend his playing career at Manchester United through to 2018.
Jose Mourinho and the club have confirmed they want to give the 35-year-old another year at Old Trafford.
As for Ibrahimovic, he is reportedly keen to help United genuinely contend for the Premier League title while working under Mourinho.
“In my mind, I’m fresh. I’m like a 20-year-old boy. I feel fresh, I feel good and I’ll keep going,” Ibrahimovic told BT Sport.
“I’m here. I’m here to play. I want to play.
As a football player you get blind sometimes because you have to listen to your body.
“As long as he needs me and the team needs me I’m here.”
ARSENAL RAMPS UP OFFER FOR SANCHEZ
WHILE Ibrahimovic is seemingly happy to ignore the CSL’s advances, Alexis Sanchez’s head has been turned by the big money on offer in China.
It’s forced Arsenal to act too, with the London club set to offer the striker £200,000 a week in order to keep him.
The Daily Mail reported the Gunners are resolved to keeping Sanchez and are willing to pay him more than £10m a year, with the hope the promise of Champions League football is enough to retain him.
Sanchez is believed to be well settled in London and with Arsenal set to make a genuine title challenge, there is hope the relative stability at the club will appeal to the Chilean.
Manager Arsene Wenger, who is out of contract at the end of this season, made it clear how important the striker was to the club’s bid for increased success, singing Sanchez’s praises.
“He is comparable to Suarez a bit in style,” said Wenger.
“From the players I have had, there are no real comparisons. Thierry Henry was a real athlete, naturally you saw this guy was a strong man.
“Sanchez surprises you a little bit because of his size — you do not expect such a dynamic, strong winning attitude. It’s his game.
“He is a leader in his way on the football pitch, because he is not scared of anybody. That’s a kind of leadership.”
CITY EYES OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN
WITH Arsenal occupied trying to lock down Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, it’s put itself at risk of losing one of the other pieces of the puzzle.
Manchester City is reportedly preparing to swoop on forward Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a £25 million January bid for the midfielder.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract expires in 18 months and The Sun reported that as yet, Arsenal has not opened talks with his management about extending his stay at the club.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is reportedly a huge fan of the midfielder, having tracked him last season.
Despite frequently starting or finishing games on the bench, Oxlade-Chamberlain has found some serious form under Wenger this season.
The Arsenal manager has previously said he is determined to keep the 23-year-old at the club, despite City’s ongoing interest.
ARSENAL LOOKS TO SNAP UP UNHAPPY ISCO
WHILE all the talk at the Emirates has focused on retaining players, Wenger is still looking to improve his squad come January.
That could include putting in a bid for Real Madrid’s Isco, who is reportedly unhappy at his lack of gametime at the Spanish powerhouse.
The Mirror reported that the Spaniard, whose current contract runs out in June 2018, has been offered a new deal, though he’s unhappy with his failure to regularly start for Zinedine Zidane.
Isco only wants to play for Champions League clubs, which opens the door for Arsenal, who could take the midfielder on loan in January with a view to a permanent sale.
Real Madrid reportedly value him at around £25 million while Arsenal rates the 24-year-old at closer to £17m plus add-ons.
JAMES OPENS THE DOOR FOR REAL MADRID EXIT
WITH the amount of quality at the Bernabeu, it’s inevitable some top-class players miss out on a regular start.
Colombian star James Rodriguez is one such player, having been in and out of Zidane’s starting line-up.
He has been heavily linked to a £75m move to Chelsea, with Brazilian Oscar set to move to China.
The 25-year-old admitted after the Club World Cup final — where he was an unused substitute — that he had offers on the table if he chose to depart the club in the January transfer window.
“I can’t assure I will stay at Real Madrid,” Rodriguez said.
“I have offers and seven days left to think about my future.
“I am happy in Madrid, but I want to play more. I have a bitter feeling as I wanted to play the final, but I am happy for the title. It’s the 15th title in my career.”
Category: Football
