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Alexis Sanchez is ready to give Arsenal one more year - as long as they prove their ambition in this summer's transfer market.

Striker Sanchez is challenging the Gunners to make the sort of major improvements which could convince him to stay and be successful - or face him running down his contract and then moving across London to Chelsea as a free-agent after next season.

The Chilean star is very happy in London, his home for almost three years since moving from Barcelona in a £30million-plus deal, and knows Antonio Conte's champions-elect are interested but privately believes Arsenal will not sell him to a direct rival.

(Image: Getty)

It is a clear warning to the Gunners that they must make a clear statement of intent to stop being also-rans in the title race and Champions League if they want to keep their best player away from Stamford Bridge.

Perennial French champions Paris Saint-Germain and Italy's top dogs Juventus are also very keen, and the North Londoners would rather sell abroad if they feel Sanchez will not sign a new contract.

The 28-year-old, who has a house near Arsenal’s Hertfordshire training ground as well as a city-centre apartment, has told friends he loves English football, enjoys living in the capital and does not want to leave.

He has hit a contract-negotiations stalemate — the Gunners have offered him around £250,000-a-week, but the hold-up is equally to do with the club’s ambitions.

It is a similar situation with team-mate Mesut Ozil, whose contract also expires in 2018 — a deal for in the region of £280,000-a-week has been tabled — but there has not been the same level of interest in the German midfielder.

Arsenal must show whether they are ready to make major changes at the Emirates, sign big players and overhaul the squad to make them genuine title contenders next season.

Manager Arsene Wenger’s own future remains uncertain.

It is likely he will stay but he is under pressure to shake-up his backroom staff, with a director of football likely to be phased in — along with redevelopments of the training ground and academy.