Alexis Sanchez won’t play for Arsenal this week

Alexis Sanchez is currently an Arsenal player, but one with one year left on his contract and a lot of teams wanting to sign him. Plenty of fans were skeptical, then, when they heard he’d be out for at least a couple of weeks with an abdominal injury.

Players get hurt all the time, and minor injuries in preseason training are very common. It’s very possible that Arsene Wenger is sticking to his previous comments that Sanchez will not be sold, and that he’s just nursing a minor abdominal strain.

But Tottenham supporters will remember when Gareth Bale was reportedly injured, only to make a deadline day move to Real Madrid and start training shortly afterwards. This isn’t an uncommon tactic for teams to use when they’re willing to sell a player, but don’t want to drive down the price by admitting he’s for sale.

Legitimate injury or not, sitting out of games will only increase speculation about Sanchez’s exit. And fresh rumors on Wednesday have PSG reportedly ready to rival Manchester City for his signature.

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Kieran Tierney’s screamer for Celtic against Kilmarnock. (r/soccer)

The first designated player in LAFC history is Carlos Vela.

Neymar’s PSG debut might be delayed because the Spanish FA and La Liga won’t send his international transfer certificate. (BBC)

Luka Modric can’t play in the first leg of the Supercopa because of a 3-year-old suspension. (Marca)

Mario Lemina has joined Southampton from Juventus. (St. Mary’s Musings)

Watford has signed Brazilian attacker Richarlison. (Watford FC)

And they’ve also picked up Andre Gray from Burnley. (Watford FC)

Winger Pedro Santos has joined Columbus Crew as a DP. (Massive Report)

One of the best attackers in Ligue 1 last year, Ryad Boudebouz, has made a surprise move to Betis. (AS)

Jessie Losch on the times sports and politics did mix. (Unusual Efforts)

Will Unwin on Derby’s record-low points total and the fight to avoid approaching it again. (The Set Pieces)

Nick Ames on the fall of Samir Nasri. (Guardian)

If Barcelona wants Ousmane Dembele, it’ll cost them the second-biggest fee in history. (Guardian)

Barcelona is also serious about signing Philippe Coutinho, despite Liverpool saying he has no price. (Mirror)

But the Blaugrana might not sign Iñigo Martinez after all? (AS)

And they’re asking Jean Michael Seri to wait on them before going somewhere else. (Sport)

Jose Mourinho says he can’t sign Gareth Bale, but there are rumors that Real Madrid is open to a monster offer. (Express)

Chelsea has reportedly bid £25 million for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. (Mail)

Dortmund is deep in negotiations with Inter on a loan-to-buy move for Emre Mor. (Football Italia)

Real Madrid defeated Manchester United to lift the UEFA Super Cup.

Alex Morgan and Marta were on top form for the Orlando Pride. (The Mane Land)