Football transfer news and rumours: 'Man City front runners for Alexis Sanchez as wage demands put off Bayern Munich'

Manchester City are now the favourites to sign Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez after Bayern Munich were put off by the Chilean's wage demands.

That's the verdict of the Mirror which reports that Sanchez wants in excess of £350,000-a-week to leave the Gunners, who will ask for around £50 million for the forward who helped Chile book their place in the Confederations Cup last night.

Sanchez's contract runs out in 12 months, but the big-money wages being spoken about appear to have cooled Bayern's interest in the forward.

Arsenal have been pressing on with potential replacements for Sanchez, however, with Thomas Lemar topping their list.

In our article by Jeremy Wilson and John Percy, Arsene Wenger has had a bid in excess of £30 million turned down for Monaco winger Lemar and are now considering whether to formalise their interest in Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez.

Wenger’s transfer priorities have been the French trio of Kylian Mbappé, Alexandre Lacazette and Lemar, with Arsenal hoping to sign two new forwards ahead of Sanchez's likely departure.

Champions League winners Real Madrid are considering offering Keylor Navas to Chelsea in part exchange for Thibaut Courtois.

According to Spanish publication, Don Balon, the Spanish giants have reluctantly conceded defeat in their long pursuit of Man Utd's David De Gea and have now switched their attentions to Chelsea's Belgian shotstopper.

The article adds that in their ambitions of landing Courtois they will offer the 30-year-old Navas in a potential player-plus-cash deal.

Liverpool target Naby Keita is aiming to play for "one of the very big clubs”, but hasn't included the Reds among his preferred destinations.

Jurgen Klopp's side have made the Red Bull Leipzig midfielder one of their top targets and are thought to be prepared to make a £50m offer, according to the Mirror, after he made a big impression in the Bundesliga last term.

Leipzig are reluctant to sell one of their star assets and even Keita doesn't seem that keen on a switch to Merseyside.

The 22-year-old Guinea international said of his future: “I love Leipzig, and I will never forget this city.

“I hope, however, that I have the level in two, three years and could play for one of the very big clubs.

“This includes Barcelona, but it also includes Real Madrid or Manchester City.”

Everton midfielder Gerard Deulofeu is attracting the attentions of Serie A giants AC Milan and Juventus after turning down the chance of rejoining Barcelona, writes the Mail.

The Catalan giants triggered a buy-back clause in Deulofeu's contract but the winger, a product of the La Masia academy, wants regular first-team football and is unlikely to get that at the Nou Camp, while he is not part of Everotn manager Ronald Koeman's long-term plans either.

He impressed in a loan spell with Milan during the second half of last season and his performances for the Rossoneri have led to Juventus making their interest clear.

Finally, Manchester United look set to lose out in the chase for Monaco's versatile midfielder Fabinho, who is closing in on a move to Paris St Germain, reports the Daily Record.

While Fabinho, who can also play at full-back, has expressed an interest in working with United boss Jose Mourinho, PSG are the favourites to seal his signature as they bid to prise a key asset away from their biggest domestic rival.

And the rest...

Against the clock

Barcelona are said to have set themselves a 10-day deadline to sign Arsenal's Héctor Bellerín before they turn their attentions elsewhere. That's the rumblings from Spanish paper Mundo Deportiov.

Bellerin isn't thinking much about his own future right now. "My future is not important now. What is important is to help the national team and win this tournament."

Bellerin helped Spain's U21s reach the final of the U21s Euoropean Championships last night with victory over Italy.

Zlatan statue nears completion

Footballers and statues haven't been a harmonious pairing this season (think Cristiano Ronaldo's bust). But one is taking shape quite nicely and is to the likely of the man in question, Mr Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

In Ibrahimovic's modest and humble way, he declares that the "Symbol of Sweden" is nearly done.

The  2.7m version of Zlatan will be erected outside Stockholm's Friends Arena.

Flash back

On this very day 17 years ago, Robbie Keane was in Italy settling in to his San Siro surroundings after completing a £13m switch from Coventry City to Inter Milan.

Keane walked into a dressing room containing names such as Javier Zanetti, Laurent Blanc, Clarence Seedorf and leaving those behind at Highfield Road including Noel Whelan, John Aloisi and Gordon Strachan. Ah, memories.