Alexis Sanchez set for first meeting with Arsene Wenger since Arsenal contract stand-off after delayed return

Alexis Sanchez is set to face Arsene Wenger on Wednesday, as he prepares for showdown talks on his future at Arsenal.

Sanchez is due back in London on Tuesday after an overnight flight from South America and it is expected he will report for training the following day.

It will be the first time Sanchez has seen the Arsenal manager since his contract talks stalled amid interest from Manchester City, Paris St-Germain and Chelsea.

Sanchez, 28, has one year left on his £130,000-a-week deal and Arsenal have offered to make him the highest-paid player in the Premier League on £300,000 a week.

Wenger has been texting Sanchez throughout the summer but, despite their regular contact, the pair have not come face-to-face for around two months.

However, they can hold formal talks now Sanchez is coming back to Arsenal. Wenger is determined to keep his star player and is even willing to risk losing him for nothing next summer. Should he stay and no fresh contract be agreed, the Chile international can begin talking to other clubs directly from January 1.

Wenger admits he does not know whether Sanchez will be fit in time for the start of the season, after the player was given extended leave by Arsenal.

Sanchez had been due to report back for pre-season training yesterday but he was allowed to stay in Chile after telling the club he was suffering from the flu.

He had already been given an extended break following his involvement at the Confederations Cup in Russia.

Sanchez seems certain to miss the Community Shield against Chelsea on Sunday and his chances of facing Leicester in the Premier League opener a week on Friday are decreasing.

Asked about supporters worrying that Sanchez will leave, Wenger said: “What can I do about that? One day, he will go and Arsenal will go on. We will all go one day and Arsenal will hopefully go on.”

Wenger, speaking after the 2-1 defeat by Sevilla yesterday, added: “Do I think he will stay [this season]? Yes, of course. How many times did I tell you that?”