Arsenal have been stunned by Alexis Sanchez’s wage demands after the star used an astonishing £400,000-per-week offer from China to try and get the club to smash their wage structure to keep him.

Sportsmail can reveal the 27-year-old striker has been inundated with offers from the Chinese Super League, with clubs willing to pay him £260,000 a week after tax.

Arsenal are in talks with Sanchez about extending the remaining 18 months of his contract.

Alexis Sanchez is embraced by Arsene Wenger as he substituted during Tuesday night's win

The 27-year-old frontman has been inundated with offers from the Chinese Super League

Arsenal know they cannot get close to the sums being offered, but Sanchez’s representatives are using the Chinese cash to land a more lucrative deal with the Gunners — or elsewhere in Europe.

Sanchez currently earns £130,000 a week and can expect a new deal worth about £200,000 per week before tax to make him the club’s best-paid player.

Arsene Wenger will be hoping to retain the services of Sanchez beyond next season

Whether Sanchez is prepared to spend the peak of his career away from Europe is uncertain but he is using the mega offer to drive a hard bargain.

Arsenal are maintaining contact with Sanchez’s representatives and remain hopeful of an agreement but they could be forced to sell him in the summer if he doesn’t sign a new deal to ensure he can’t leave on a free transfer at the end of next season.

The Gunners are already identifying replacements with Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus a favourite among club scouts.