Confused report claims Alexis Sanchez was offered to Euro big boys

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez was offered to Real Madrid last week, according to a report in Spain.

Don Balon claim a deal for the 28-year-old Chile striker was proposed to Zinedine Zidane, but the Real boss turned down the opportunity.

Sanchez, who has yet to sign a new contract, will be out of contract next summer and available for free; he is available to speak to interested clubs in January.

Manchester City were understood to be close to landing Sanchez on deadline day last month, but the deal fell through.

City made a £60million bid for the player and had Arsenal managed to get Thomas Lemar to The Emirates as a replacenent, nthen Sanchez would have left north London. Lemar though opted to stay with Monaco, although Arsene Wenger has hinted a deal could be revisited again in January.

The latest talk comes just a few days after Zidane had apparently told Real chiefs to sort out a January deal for Sanchez.

The Real boss has already admitted he is a striker short after reluctantly allowing Alvaro Morata leave for Chelsea.  Fellow back-up striker Mariano Diaz also left the Bernabeu to join Lyon, leaving Real light on striker numbers.

Zidane admitted he failed in a number of attempts to sign a striker last month, but whether Sanchez was or still is on his list remains in doubt with the Frenchman chasing a No. 9.

The report is unclear whether Sanchez was offered to the La Liga champions by his agent or by the Gunners. And somewhat confusingly, Don Balon maintain that Zidane has snubbed the chance to sign Sanchez and he already regrets his decision.

With the transfer window already shut until January, how can Zidane regret a decision that was not there to be made? Can he not change his mind and make a move in January?