Wenger: Sanchez to City deal was not 'close'; Lemar opted for Monaco stay

In the end, Manchester City wasn't as close to acquiring Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal as some reports suggested, according to manager Arsene Wenger.

He also added that Arsenal's pursuit of Thomas Lemar fell short as the French international simply wanted to remain with AS Monaco.

The transfer deadline day was rampant with speculation over Sanchez's proposed move to the Premier League rival, with reports suggesting that Arsenal would only accept City's offer if a contingency plan was in place.

However, with Arsenal's failure to convince Lemar to move during the final stages of deadline day, it became clear that Sanchez would continue his career in north London.

Wenger addressed the speculation during an interview with beIN Sports, as transcribed by ESPN FC, saying that City's pursuit was never that close and that the mission now is to ensure that Sanchez is committed to Arsenal.

"'It was not very close," he said. "It's very difficult for me to speak about that because what I want now is the player to focus on his career, on his season and Arsenal.

"I always think first, make sure that my commitment is at the level that is expected from people paying me and have confidence in me. On the player's side it is exactly the same."

With Sanchez in the fold, Arsenal now risks the possibility of losing the Chilean, as well as Mesut Ozil, on a free transfer considering that his contract expires next summer.

But Wenger insists that Arsenal is in a position to make a "financial sacrifice," and hinted that a new deal for either player could be resolved during the season.

"I can not tell you everything that happened because after you decide to let a player of that calibre go, you need to replace him because nobody would understand that you let the player go," he said.

"When you can not do it you keep the player, and you make a financial sacrifice because at the end of the day what you want is to have a team with good potential and top quality.

"So Alexis Sanchez will go, like Mesut Ozil, in the final year of his contract, or you think that during the season you find a way to extend the contract, or at the end of the season the players go for free."

Arsenal appeared close to finding a replacement for Sanchez after reportedly launching an improved bid worth £90 million for Lemar. But the player made the final decison to resume his career in Monaco.

"The player has chosen to stay at Monaco," Wenger said. "I do not want to talk too much. You have to respect what really happens on the negotiation side.

"I know we live in an era of transparency but at some stage to respect everybody you have to not talk too much about that."

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)