Alexis Sanchez preparing to accept Arsenal stay

Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez and those close to him are beginning to accept he may have to wait until next summer to seal his desired transfer to Manchester City.

The Chile international has been stalling on signing a new contract at the Emirates Stadium and is set to be a free agent in a year’s time as things stand.

City have been linked as Sanchez’s biggest admirers this summer and are also reported as being the player’s preferred destination, though Arsenal have been hoping to sell him abroad.

Still, with the Gunners reportedly setting an asking price of between £80-90million for the 28-year-old, it seems increasingly unlikely that any club will pay up for him this year.

According to the Independent, this now means Sanchez and his entourage are preparing for one final season in north London and are giving up on a move for the time being.

Arsene Wenger has been adamant for much of the summer that he would not be selling Sanchez and that he expects full commitment from his top scorer if he is to stay and see out his contract.

‘This summer, first of all, they will stay at the club and hopefully we can extend their contract,’ Wenger said when discussing Sanchez and fellow contract rebel Mesut Ozil earlier this summer.

‘When you sign a contract somewhere you commit to give your best until the last day of the contract.’

Sanchez had an outstanding individual campaign in 2016/17, scoring 30 goals and contributing 13 assists, though Arsenal were disappointing as they finished outside the top four for the first time in Wenger’s long reign at the club.

Arsenal did, however, make amends by beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final at the end of May, with Sanchez scoring the opener in a 2-1 victory at Wembley.