Arsene Wenger: Alexis Sanchez is staying at Arsenal and will return to training ‘as soon as possible’

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James Benge29 July 2017

Alexis Sanchez will make his delayed return to Arsenal training on Tuesday but Arsene Wenger insists nothing has changed over his star forward’s future during his absence through illness.

Hours after Wenger confirmed that Sanchez was due back in training with Arsenal on Sunday the Chilean forward, who had been given extra time off to recover after the Confederations Cup, posted on Instagram that he had the flu.

His announcement served to only heighten the speculation over Sanchez’s future, with Manchester City the leading contenders for his signature. Arsenal remain insistent that last season’s top scorer will not be sold even if it means losing him on a free on the expiry of his contract next summer.

Sanchez’s illness will not change Arsenal’s stance.

“He has flu,” Wenger said. “I spoke to him on text yesterday. He will come back as soon as possible.

“We are in touch with him and his doctor. There is no basic problem other than the fact the instead of coming back on Sunday he comes back on Tuesday.

“There are no developments [over his future]. It’s always the same. He’s staying of course.”

However the manager refused to reveal the details of his conversations with Sanchez, who has yet to return to London.

Asked by Standard Sport whether he would be arranging a meeting with Sanchez before the Chilean returns to training Wenger said: “I can’t talk about that - I have meetings with all the players.”

Wenger admitted that it was reasonable to read more into Sanchez’s illness – “your job is built on mistrust and my job is built on trust – not least because the 28-year-old has made clear that he wants to play in the Champions League next season.

Arsenal cannot provide that but are also acutely aware that their chances of getting back to Europe’s top competition will be much slimmer with the Chilean in his side.

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