Alexis Sanchez has confirmed he’s back in London with a post on Instagram as speculation hots up that he’s set to submit an official transfer request to Arsenal.
The Chile international has been strongly linked with the likes of Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich this summer as he stalls on signing a new contract, with just a year to run on his current deal.
Despite the risk of losing him on a free in a year’s time, Arsenal have maintained publicly that they have no intention of selling Sanchez, particularly not to a Premier League rival, and regardless of whether or not he signs a new deal.
Still, there has been plenty for Arsenal fans to sweat over as latest reports suggest he will push for an exit after arriving back in London from his native Chile this week.
The 28-year-old was expected back in training on Sunday before succumbing to the flu, with the player confirming via Instagram last week that he was ‘sick’, which Arsene Wenger later confirmed was true.
Sanchez is now back on English soil and there will surely be further developments over his situation before long as he has made it clear he wants to be playing in the Champions League.
‘I want to play the Champions League,’ he said last month. ‘The decision does not depend on me, I have to wait for Arsenal. I’ve made my decision, now I wait for Arsenal’s reply. The idea is to play and win the Champions League. I’ve dreamt about it since I was a kid.’
Arsenal missed out on the top four last season after a hugely disappointing campaign, and they will be significantly weakened if they lose Sanchez, who contributed 30 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.
The South American’s fine individual form helped the Gunners end on a high as he scored in the FA Cup final win over Chelsea, and Wenger has understandably pushed to keep hold of the player even if it means losing him on a free next summer.
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