The wantaway forward will demand that Arsene Wenger lets him leave the Emirates this summer.

Sanchez has refused to sign a new contract at Arsenal and has just one year remaining on his current deal.

The Mirror say the Chilean will hand the transfer request into the club this week.

Sanchez was due to return to training with Arsenal today but due to a bout of flu he has been granted extra time off.

The 28-year-old is returning late to pre-season after participating in the Confederations Cup for Chile this summer.

Wenger confirmed Sanchez is ill but is confident his star man will stay at the club.

"He has flu, yes. I had him on text yesterday," he said after yesterday's 5-2 win over Benfica.

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"There's no development - he is staying, of course."

Sanchez was in sensational form for Arsenal last season, netting 30 goals and providing 19 assists in all competitions.

Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain were interested in the Chile star but his demands of a wage of £400,000-a-week has seen their interest fade.

Sanchez hopes a personal plea to Wenger will force through a switch to Premier League rivals City.