Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez linked with shock move to Real Madrid in January but Manchester City remain favourites
Chilean was moments away from joining City on deadline day but reports in Spain now suggest Florentino Perez is eyeing up the striker
ALEXIS SANCHEZ has emerged as a shock target for Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain.
are claiming Real president Florentino Perez has shortlisted the Arsenal forward as a reinforcement up front at the Bernabeu.
Karim Benzema's recent injury and the sale of Alvaro Morata has highlighted how the Champions League holders can be left short in attack.
And Perez's potential targets include Chilean international who was moments away from joining Manchester City on deadline day.
The other names on the list include Timo Werner from RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.
But Don Balon claim Sanchez would be desperate to return to Spain after leaving Barcelona for Arsenal in 2014.
Sanchez's intense work rate in the final third has also reportedly seen Madrid look at the potential of making a bid.
They also claim that Sanchez has told Arsenal that if a big club comes in for him then he wants to leave the Emirates.
But they face competition from City, who had nearly completed a £60million deal for Sanchez before the Gunners pulled the plug.
Arsenal host Cologne in their opening Europa League clash against Cologne tonight.
Sanchez could feature against the German club as he steps up his fitness drive following a late return to training in the summer.
The former Napoli man was injured upon his return and only featured as a substitute in the win against Bournemouth at the weekend.
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