Alexis Sanchez fears Arsenal are prepared to stick to their word and make him enter the final 12 months of his contract as he waits to find out whether he will be forced to return to the Emirates.

But Sanchez could make a final attempt to force an exit by threatening to walk away for free next year if Arsenal reject an offer from Manchester City.

Manager Arsene Wenger has been adamant that Sanchez will not be sold this summer, but the 28-year-old had hoped that by refusing to sign a new contract that Arsenal would be forced to cash in.

Sanchez, though, has put off a host of foreign clubs, including Bayern Munich, by demanding wages in excess of £350,000-a-week – leaving City as frontrunners for his signature.

Chelsea have also shown a strong interest in the forward, but have been told that Arsenal will refuse to sell him to a Premier League rival.

The lack of movement on a move away has left Sanchez concerned that Arsenal will make him stay and turn down a bid from City to reunite him with Pep Guardiola, who signed him for Barcelona.