Alexis Sanchez has said that his future now rests on talks between his agent and Arsenal, with Bayern Munich emerging as the front-runners to sign the Chile striker.

Arsenal’s public stance is still that Sanchez has a year left on his contract and will not be sold if he does not agree a new deal, but they are unlikely to maintain that position until the end of the transfer window in the face of serious offers.

Bayern are believed to be willing to pay around £40 million and also satisfy Sanchez’s wage-demands, even though Arsenal’s offer is understood to have now reached £280,000-a-week.

Chelsea and Manchester City are also interested in Sanchez but, although the player likes living in London and may be willing simply to run down his contract, Arsenal will not want to risk losing their best player for nothing next season to a direct rival.