Alexis Sanchez transfer saga: What are Arsenal's options? 

#3 Negotiate with foreign clubs and sell at a lower price?

Franck Ribery (34) and Arjen Robben (33) will need to be replaced soon

“It looks like Sánchez will not extend his contract." - Arsene Wenger

After repeatedly stating that he does not want to lose the Chilean, Wenger is now resigned to his departure. It's only a matter of time; a question of 'when' rather than 'if'.

If City walk away from a potential transfer and Arsenal refuse to sell to United, one other option they do have is to sell him to a club outside the Premier League.

The only issue with this course of action is that there aren't many buyers willing to take him on. The biggest stumbling block again is Alexis' wage demands.

Bayern Munich and Juventus have been linked in the past and have reportedly approached his agent. But they could never come to an agreement regarding personal terms even if they were ready to spend money to bring him to the club.

"If you have a good player, you will not give it up just for a huge amount of money. We will not be ready to spend horrendous money on a transfer. But maybe there is a good candidate who does not cost a lot of money and makes sense." - Bayern Munich president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

With Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben not getting any younger, Bayern signing Alexis makes sense. But it also needs to be drilled into Alexis' head that very few clubs will be willing to pay silly money - and most would rather wait till the summer to sign him once they have place in their squads.

For Arsenal, selling to a foreign club is ideal as it doesn't strengthen a direct rival in the race for the top four and Champions League spots.