Ian Wright: Why I’m confident Arsenal star forward won’t swap gunners for China

Ian Wright doesn’t believe Alexis Sanchez will move to China but has urged Arsenal to hand the striker a huge new contract. 

Sanchez’s future has been a source of speculation in recent months after the Chile international entered into negotiations over a new deal. 

Arsenal are thought to be ready to give the South American a £200,000-a-week deal which would be a pay rise in the region of £60,000-a-week. 

However, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger appeared to confirm that there is interest from China amid reports Sanchez could earn a staggering £400,000-a-week in Asia. 

Former Gunners striker Wright played down the chances of Sanchez completing what would be a controversial move to China in the peak of his career, but warned the Arsenal to dig deep and give Sanchez a significant income boost. 

“I don’t know if he wants it [£400,000 a week]. Arsenal have to make him the kind of offer to make him stay. There is no way Alexis is going to leave,” Wright told The Sun Goals podcast. 

“The Chinese need it for their league if they want it to be boosted. They need players like Alexis Sanchez to leave in their height of their powers and go there. 

“I don’t think it will happen. I think they’ll use it as leverage for him to get more of a mega deal here.” 

Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League title since 2003-04 despite spending over £77m on Mesut Ozil and Sanchez in the past three years.