Rumour: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger held talks with Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez over possible move

Arsene Wenger has reportedly held talks with Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has allegedly held talks with Barcelona and Chile star Alexis Sanchez, stealing a march on Liverpool, according to the Metro.

The Arsenal manager, who ended the club’s 9-year wait for a trophy by lifting the FA Cup last month, is working in Brazil for French television during the World Cup and has apparently taken time out of his schedule to talk with Sanchez ahead of a potential £25 million move to the Emirates Stadium.

Sanchez could be on the way out of Barcelona as new manager Luis Enrique looks to take the club in a new direction after a trophyless campaign under Gerardo Martino. He has already sold Cesc Fabregas to Chelsea and replaced him with Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla and is targeting Liverpool striker Luis Suarez so the Chilean’s future is uncertain as things stand.

Spanish press are reporting that Sanchez’s agent is currently sourcing interest from a number of clubs, including both Arsenal and Liverpool, which points towards a departure at some point this summer.

Arsenal are also facing competition from Juventus, who are thought to have already agreed terms with Sanchez, which may well have forced Wenger into, allegedly, holding talks with the forward.

The Gunners are in desperate need for improvements in attack andhave also been linked with Mario Balotelli, who seems certain to leave AC Milan. Though, recently, the Arsenal boss moved to distance himself from a deal for Balotelli.