I've been convinced he would come all summer. Last 10 days..Not so much. Would have thought he would have agitated by now.
That may be the point of the delay.... there is more than a little theatre in these things sometimes.
If he'd agitated that would get the deal done, but it could look like city tapping up. It could disrupt Arsenal's start to the season. And it could possibly negative for his image. There would be a bit pressure in some quarters for Arsenal to keep him to teach him a lesson - if they didn't, they risk the narrative becoming "Weak Arsenal". It's not good for anyone.
If he didn't agitate, but Arsenal sold him to us straight off, it would suit him, it could suit us, but could also lead to a long negotiation with the price going up. It certainly wouldn't look good for Arsenal. And why should they move first, when waiting tests his and city's nerve? Lemar and Monaco, are both waiting anxiously. Better for Arsenal than them going early and getting into a long negotiation with Monaco that could only increase the fee and wages.
If Arsenal delay, offer a new contract, it looks to everyone like they really tried, but made the smart business decision. The Arsenal fans will be more bothered about Lemar and the start to the season. Arsenal also avoid going to early on Lemar. Sanchez hasn't risked damaging his image, or played the first card, so it suits him. We've got the vast majority of the team ready, so it's not a disaster for us.
The talk of a new contract could be seen as Arsenal's final admission that the cost of losing him on a free, and missing Lemar, is very significant. It's pretty much an inescapable fact, and the best way for City to leverage it has been to let that prospect loom larger and larger by not making the first move. The Mbappe saga plays well for us because that deal would increase the chances of us dropping the interest in Sanchez AND strengthen Monaco's desire and ability to keep Lemar.
