Alexis Sanchez to make Arsenal comeback against Liverpool on August 27… but Arsene Wenger admits there’s ‘no progress’ on Chilean’s Gunners deal
Wenger has been adamant the club have made a decision not to sell the forward and will stick to that beyond the deadline.
ARSENE WENGER has revealed that Alexis Sanchez will return for the Gunners' trip to Liverpool next week - but admits no progress has been made in securing his long-term future at Arsenal.
Sanchez has been sidelined for two weeks and missed the North London club's 4-3 win over Leicester last week due to an abdominal injury.
The injury, which was picked up while the Chilean was training, also ruled him out of the Gunners' victory over Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley.
Wenger said he will not be available for Saturday evening's trip to Stoke, adding: "For Sanchez, it [Stoke] looks a little early but he works hard in training.
"Our medical people think Saturday comes too soon [and] he should be available for [the] next game against Liverpool.
"His recovery is going very well, he is working very hard. But you have to be very cautious.
"It was a muscle strain and [you have to be wary] not to have any setback on it."
Sanchez's injury time has stoked speculation over his future.
The 28-year-old, who only has 12 months left on his current deal, has attracted the interest of Manchester City, who are preparing a £60 million bid for him.
Wenger has been adamant the club have made a decision not to sell him and will stick to that beyond the deadline.
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The Gunners boss said: "He is a player who goes into the final year of his contract.
"We have not progressed on that front."
Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also both inside the last 12 months of their contracts and have been involved in talks over extensions.
However Oxlade-Chamberlain is also understood to be a target for Chelsea in the final weeks of the transfer window.