[Photo] Sanchez Flies Home To Seal Move As Man City Eye £40m Bid To Gazump Rivals

The summer transfer window is now open for business and it’s expected to be a busy few weeks as managers strengthen their squads ahead of next season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, the latest on the future of Alexis Sanchez.

Alexis Sanchez has flown back to Spain to resolve his future with reports claiming that Manchester City are now ready to gazump rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United with a £40m offer for the Barcelona attacker.

Sanchez has emerged as one of the most sought-after players in the summer transfer window after Barca chiefs made it clear they were willing to cash-in on the 25-year-old as he doesn’t feature in new boss Luis Enrique’s first team plans.

Understandably, a whole host of clubs have been linked with the Chilean international in recent weeks, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United all understood to be keen on luring him to the Premier League.

Liverpool are believed to have asked for Sanchez to be part of any deal involving Luis Suarez heading to the Nou Camp, but conflicting reports suggest the player has turned down the opportunity to move to Anfield with Spanish source Mundo Deportivo suggesting the player would prefer a switch to the Emirates – although some believe the Merseysiders still haven’t given up hope.

It’s reported that the Gunners have so far offered £31m for the attacker and Arsene Wenger is confident of getting the deal over the line. However, all that could be about to change with the Daily Star claiming that Man City are ready to blow their rivals out the water with a mammoth £40m bid with boss Manuel Pellegrini seemingly keen on adding his compatriot to his expensively assembled squad at the Etihad.

Whether that turns out to be the case remains to be seen, but if true, the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool are going to have to up their offers or risk missing out on Sanchez altogether.

It would be a huge blow for either club as Brendan Rodgers tries to find a replacement for Barca-bound Suarez while Wenger is on the look-out for attacking reinforcements to help support Olivier Giroud next season.

Sanchez has just enjoyed an excellent World Cup which came off the back of his best season at the Nou Camp following his move from Udinese in 2011, but his 21 goals and 15 assists haven’t done enough to persuade Barcelona to hang on to him and the attacker has now cut short his holiday to head back to Spain to resolve his future.

Former Chile president Sebastián Piñera uploaded a photo to his Instagram account late last night of him with Sanchez along with a message saying “surprise encounter with Sanchez who is on his way back to Spain”. Spanish newspaper AS claim the player was en route back to Catalonia for talks with Barca officials where he’s set to reveal which club he wants to join.

I’m sure Arsenal and Liverpool fans will be waiting with bated breath to find out his decision, but there could yet be a final twist if Man City, or indeed Man Utd, make a late push for his signature.