Raheem Sterling expected to stay at Manchester City as Pep Guardiola looks to sign Arsenal's wantaway star Alexis Sanchez in cash-only deal

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Manchester City are determined to sign Alexis Sanchez in a cash-only deal, with Raheem Sterling now increasingly unlikely to be part of any move.

Having had a £50million bid rejected, City had considered including Sterling as a makeweight in their move for Sanchez.

But as Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday, manager Pep Guardiola is reluctant to include Sterling in the deal.

Raheem Sterling is increasingly unlikely to be part of any move involving Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal rejected a £50million bid from Manchester City for Sanchez, who wants to leave club

The forward has already made a significant contribution this season scoring two goals in City's opening three Premier League games.

And it is now looking increasingly likely that Sterling will stay at City and not be part of any deal. 

City will now focus on luring Sanchez to the Etihad in a straight-cash transfer.

Arsenal are unlikely to sell the Chilean for anything less than £70m, even though he can leave for nothing at the end of the season when his contract expires.

Arsenal have offered Sanchez a new deal on £300,000 per week — but the South American has made it clear he does not want to sign a new contract under any circumstances.

Arsenal would much prefer a player-plus cash offer and had their sights on Sterling

Pep Guardiola is understood to be reluctant to include Sterling (right) in the deal

Arsenal will have very little time to sign a replacement for Sanchez if Sterling isn't part of the transfer, but a bid in excess of £70m — a huge amount given Sanchez can leave for nothing next summer — may persuade them.

Sterling was open to a move to the Emirates. The 22-year-old grew up in London and in a World Cup year, knows regular first-team football would be readily available at Arsenal. But City manager Guardiola is reluctant to let the forward go following his two goals in City's opening three Premier League games.

Some of Sanchez's team-mates believe the uncertainty over his future is destabilising the dressing room. And there have been concerns over his effort in training and matches from coaches over the past six months.

It is understood Sanchez has told Chile boss Juan Antonio Pizzi he would like to sit out their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Thursday so he can sort out his future.

 Sanchez has asked to leave the Chile national team camp in order to sort out his club future