Alexis Sanchez made his first appearance of the season in Sunday’s drubbing at Anfield (Picture: Getty)

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has expressed his sympathy for Alexis Sanchez whose Arsenal future remains up in the air.

Arsene Wenger has maintained all summer that his star forward is not for sale, despite the Chilean making clear he will not sign an extension to his current contract which expires in less than a year’s time.

Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool, during which Sanchez cut a dejected figure, appears to have triggered a change of heart at Arsenal, who could now be tempted to sell the 28-year-old should they receive a suitable offer.

Arsene Wenger has maintained all summer that his star man is not for sale (Picture: Getty)

Alexis has now joined up with his international teammates and De Bruyne, whose own move to City was held up for a number of weeks back in 2015, can understand why his potentially new colleague could be getting frustrated.

‘A quick transfer is good,’ said De Bruyne. ‘If it drags on it can be annoying and I had to wait two or three weeks to join City.

‘Every time you go home everyone asks, ‘What’s happening?’ You say you’re going, then the next day you say you’re staying – it can be annoying.

‘Everyone needs to be happy, both teams, the players. But when it’s over, everyone is relieved.’

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