Arsene Wenger suggests Alexis Sanchez has been tapped up as Arsenal boss insists 'if you have top players you cannot stop it happening'

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Arsene Wenger admits clubs are powerless in the war against tapping-up.

Wenger suggested that Alexis Sanchez has been subjected to tapping-up. He does not want the Chilean striker to leave Arsenal, even if that means he walks away on a free transfer when his contract expires next year.

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, two clubs reported to FIFA by Monaco last week for making illegal advances on teenager striker Kylian Mbappe, are keen to sign Sanchez.

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are interested in buying Alexis Sanchez this summer

‘Honestly, it is a problem, I don’t deny that,’ said Wenger. ‘But is there a realistic way to fight against it?

‘If you have top players you cannot stop it happening. It’s frustrating. We fought against this for 20 years but it still happens. How can you check when an agent meets a director from another club or which player speaks to who?

‘We know it happens. It happens every day. Monaco do it as well. In the end they sell the players to the clubs they complain against.’

This summer, Monaco have sold Bernardo Silva to Manchester City in a deal which could rise to more than £62million and agreed a fee for Benjamin Mendy to follow him to the Etihad Stadium for £52m.

Arsenal have also shown interest in signing Mbappe and been in pursuit of Monaco winger Thomas Lemar as a potential long-term replacement for Sanchez.

Arsene Wenger has suggested that Sanchez has been subjected to tapping-up

‘We are respectful with the clubs,’ said Wenger. ‘We ask them what they want to do and if they don’t want to sell then we don’t insist.

‘Some do not take no for an answer. That maybe is where Monaco complained.’

Asked if he thought Sanchez had been tapped up, the Arsenal boss said: ‘What do you think?’

Wenger said: ‘We are in a strong financial situation, so we want to keep our best players.

‘Sanchez has got one year to go and we have no need to make money. He will be part of the team next year and after that I can understand it.’

Olivier Giroud 'fancies the competition' with Alexandre Lacazette, according to Wenger 

One factor which might change this view before the end of the transfer window is if Sanchez rebels and agitates for a move by refusing to play. But there is no evidence at present to suggest this will happen.

After extended international duty for Chile at the Confederations Cup, Sanchez was spared Arsenal’s four-match tour which ended on Saturday with a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea in Beijing.

Sanchez has not told Arsenal he wants to leave the club, according to Wenger. And Olivier Giroud is keen to stay and fight for his place, despite the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette for a club-record £52m.

‘Giroud fancies the competition,’ said Wenger. ‘As a manager, you have him on your back, wanting to play. He fights hard, I like the way he responds to what’s happening.

‘He is focused and determined and showed that on this tour.’