Report: Manchester City planning January transfer offer for Arsenal star

Even though the summer transfer window has just closed two weeks ago, Silly Season is up and running again.

According to a report from the Sunday Express, Pep Guardiola has requested the signing of Arsenal star Alexis Sánchez, and Manchester City officials will make a big offer to sign the Chilean under the manager's orders. Alexis is yet to sign a contract extension with the Gunners with less than two years left on his current deal, and that might mean he'd be open to joining another club.

Sánchez has been linked with City for a few years, because of the whole "City always buy from Arsenal" thing and because Alexis is a great player and every great player has to be linked with City at some point. The report says that Sánchez wants big wages that Arsene Wenger is still considering, and the Chilean could be on his way to another team if the Frenchman fails to meet his contract demands and doesn't guarantee a title to Arsenal this season.

City are apparently "closely monitoring the situation", and will be ready to make a January approach if the opportunity arises. This rumor makes no sense for a few reaons: 1 - City don't need attackers, and Pep wants to develop the young players he's got right now (Sterling, Sané), and with Gabriel Jesus arriving after New Year's, Pep won't need a new winger/striker in January; 2 - Guardiola will look to improve his defense next, trying to sign new full-backs, and that will be his priority for the next few transfer windows.

Alexis will demand too much playing time, and Pep wants to rotate the many attacking pieces he's got right now, especially the younger players. Sánchez is surely fantastic and played great football under Guardiola at Barcelona, but he's just not needed.

But thanks for the rumor, Silly Season!