Gunners close to winning race for Sanchez

Arsenal remain confident of pushing through a £30 million (€37m) deal for Chile winger Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona and expect to complete the signing of France defender Mathieu Debuchy later this week.

Sanchez is understood to have instructed his representatives to close negotiations with the Gunners after deciding against offers from both Liverpool and Juventus.

Reports in Spain suggest Barcelona have accepted Sanchez’s desire to leave and head to London rather than Anfield, where he could have been used as a makeweight in a potential deal for Luis Suarez.