Alexis Sanchez could be a Manchester City player within a week, according to figures close to the Arsenal striker, as the Premier League leaders prepare another move for the Chilean.

City had been weighing up whether to move for Sanchez now or wait to get him on a free at the end of the season, having already been denied last summer, but the injury to Gabriel Jesus has persuaded them to act, with dialogue over a potential deal having been re-opened over the weekend.

On the other side, it is understood that Arsene Wenger is now willing to sanction a sale, having previously been absolutely determined to keep Sanchez.

A motivating factor is said to be dressing-room relationships, with some Arsenal players known to be perturbed by Sanchez’s general attitude. He has become an increasingly unpopular figure in the dressing room, and that is on Wenger’s mind as he tries to keep hold of his players.

Arsenal are holding out for around £35m, but City are hoping to sign him for less than that, given that his contract is up at the end of the campaign.