Ox wasn't out of contract. Sanchez can (and will) leave for
by tex29 (2017-09-01 11:41:59)
Edited on 2017-09-01 11:45:01

In reply to: City were told very clearly a deal was not possible  posted by mitquinn

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free next summer. So his transfer fee is less valuable by comparison. A team isn't going to pay full market value for a player they can get free next season.

Arsenal told City it wasn't going to sell Sanchez. Period. Full stop. City suspected Arsenal would eventually come around once it realized Sanchez was not going to re-sign or agree to go to Bayern or PSG (who Aresenal preferred to deal with). But City was not going to make a formal offer unless encouraged to do so. Arsenal had all summer to find a replacement. And it knew City would be willing to pay around £50 million. Only Arsenal knew for sure whether it would eventually sell. And if it was going to be willing to do that if it found a replacement, it was up to Arsenal to find the replacement.

My guess -- which is only that -- is that Arsene didn't want to sell (because he needs to win this season), and the board eventually overruled him. But by the time it did, it had to scramble to negotiate and find a replacement. Maybe it thought City was desperate enough to give up Sterling. In any event, City can't be blamed for Arsenal's inability to line up a replacement, if its willingness to sell was going to be contingent on that outcome.

Anyone who believes Arsene Wenger
by mitquinn  (2017-09-01 11:43:49)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

when he says a player is not for sale has not paid attention for the last 12 years.

It's not that City believed he wouldn't be sold. It's that
by tex29  (2017-09-01 11:48:35)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

it wasn't going to make a formal offer until Arsenal indicated a willingness to sell. Arsenal had an informal offer all summer. It knew what was what from City's end. It didn't find a replacement because it was indecisive and negligent. Not because it it was unaware of City's intent to buy Sanchez.
Come on man
by mitquinn  (2017-09-01 11:50:08)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Arsenal is not calling Man City to tell them.

Don't be so naive.

A club has to make an offer to the selling club. Willingness to sell is not some flag that is put up outside the stadium.

and its not like there isn't precedent in the marketplace
by mitquinn  (2017-09-01 11:51:27)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

as I indicated above.

Nasri, Fabregas, RVP just for starters.
I'm not being naive. I think it is you who is being naive to
by tex29  (2017-09-01 11:57:25)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

think negotiations begin with a formal offer. Once Arsenal informally told City it was open to a deal, City made a formal offer. This happens all the time. Clubs speak and negotiate informally. Once it gets to later stages, paperwork is exchanged. For Arsenal to act as if it didn't know City wanted to buy Sanchez, for £50 million, until Tuesday of this week is just silly.
They did not act as if they did not know
by mitquinn  (2017-09-01 17:47:56)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

they acted to meet their valuation + make a replacement.

Clubs can agree to a transfer fee and then be permitted to personal terms with the agent and player. Its three or four parties involved to make it happen for one transfer let alone two players and other factors (Mbappe and DiMaria).