Alexis form triggers panic among suitors

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Six weeks ago there were not many Barcelona fans that would have been disappointed to see Alexis Sanchez check out from his Camp Nou stay this summer.

Most of them probably wouldn't even have felt any sympathy if the door had whacked him on his behind as he made his way out.
A recent run of good form may not be enough to change the minds of that majority yet, but it is beginning to cloud the situation.
His goal against Espanyol on Sunday night didn't come from completely out of the blue; since the win against Mallorca at the beginning of April, the Chilean has been improving.
The way he controlled David Villa's return pass at Cornella-El Prat, the way he twisted and turned and the way he finished bore no resemblance to the man who often looked like a rabbit in the headlights when presented with a sniff at goal earlier in the season.
It was his sixth goal in his last seven La Liga games. Throw in five assists, too, and you have a forward who has contributed directly to 12 of Barcelona's last 19 goals.
The worry for him now, if not for La Blaugrana's fans, is that it has come too late.
Italian sides have been keen to take him back to Italy for a while now (via Goal.com), and the impending arrival of Neymar from Santos (via The Guardian) further increases the competition for his position in the side.
Add to the equation a new contract for Gerard Deulofeu, who is expected to feature more heavily in the first team next season, and it wouldn't be surprising if any deal to flog Sanchez has already been done.

 

Presuming he's not already been promised to Juventus, Inter or anyone else, there are two possible ways to look at his U-turn in performances.
One way is to imagine that he's working harder than ever, desperate to save his career in Catalunya and remain a Barcelona player.
His performances, therefore, can be interpreted as a plea to Tito Vilanova. "Don't sell me boss, I can still be good...look."
The other way is that he's trying to put himself in the shop window, to show his admirers—and there are plenty—what a talent he remains, and why they should splash out on him, and not player A, this summer.
It would be nice to think that it's the first option. That the signing of Neymar and the suggestion it will trigger a domino effect, which would see the sale of Alexis, is something the 24-year-old is neither in compliance with nor would be happy about.
And, if Sanchez is setting about proving why the powers that be would be mad to let him leave, is that enough to start to win over some of his doubters?