Barcelona's vice-president, Josep María Bartomeu, has confirmed the club have started negotiations with Udinese for the Chile forward Alexis Sánchez.

The Spanish and European champions have been linked with the 22-year-old winger for some time and Bartomeu is hopeful a deal will be reached.

"We are optimistic but this has just begun. We are negotiating for Sanchez," he told the Chilean newspaper La Tercera.

"We know he is a valuable player; that is why there are so many teams after him. We have to continue talking and we will see what is going to happen in the next few days."

Sanchez, who is also a reported target for Internazionale, Manchester City and Manchester United, is thought to prefer a move to the Nou Camp.

But Bartomeu says the player's club hold the key to his arrival in Barcelona. "We will first have to come to an agreement with Udinese," he said.