Alexis Sanchez Reportedly Wanted by Chelsea Amid Arsenal Exit Rumours

Chelsea are "determined" to sign Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez this summer. 

That's according to the Mirror's Darren Lewis, who reported the Chilean has not agreed a new deal at the club as he wants around £300,000 per week, a figure Arsenal have yet to even approach.

Sanchez will have just one year left on his current contract this summer if he does not put pen to paper on a new agreement.

Lewis further reported the 28-year-old's "relationship with his team-mates and staff behind the scenes" has declined. Indeed, speculation has been rife since Sanchez was dropped from the starting lineup for Saturday's match with Liverpool, which Arsenal went on to lose 3-1.

John Cross of the same outlet believed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was justified in benching the forward and contradicted the notion of Sanchez's innate winning mentality, something ITV News' Rageh Omaar disagreed with:

The Times' Henry Winter also disagreed:

Wenger addressed reports of the former Barcelona star having a problem with the team and categorically denied them, per James Olley of the Evening Standard:

Nevertheless, the fact remains that Sanchez has not agreed a new deal at the club, and the Blues appear to be taking a keen interest in the situation.

Chelsea already boast an excellent front three of Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Pedro, but the addition of Sanchez—who would be an upgrade on the latter—would make them an even more frightening prospect.

OptaJoe highlighted his unrivalled contribution in the final third at Arsenal this season:

As well as being a clinical and creative attacker, Sanchez also appears to possess the kind of mentality that would see him fit in well at Stamford Bridge under manager Antonio Conte—that is tenacity, determination and the willingness to work with and without the ball.

Arsenal would be loath to see Sanchez join their bitter rivals, but their repeated failure to challenge for the Premier League or the UEFA Champions League could prompt him to consider his future, given a player of his calibre should be competing for both every season.