The Mail Online understands that Arsenal are ready to offer Alexis Sanchez a £270k-per-week contract as they strive to retain his services.

The forward is holding out for £300k-per-week and the proposed deal is loaded with incentives taking it closer to that figure though one thing the Gunners cannot offer is Champions League football, after they only managed to secure a fifth place finish in the Premier League.

Bayern Munich are one of the sides keeping an eye on the situation while fellow European heavyweights Juventus and Paris Saint Germain are also in the running to secure his services.

Sanchez moved to the Emirates Stadium from Barcelona in the summer of 2014 and has since racked up one hundred and forty-four appearances in all competitions, scoring …

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says “something has to change” to bring a stop to the sort of abuse Steve Bruce was subjected to during his Newcastle United reign.

Bruce left Newcastle by mutual consent on Wednesday following a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham in his 1,000th game as a manager, a departure that appeared to be inevitable after the Saudi-led takeover.

The 60-year-old subsequently released a statement revealing that may be his last role in management and hit out at the abuse he was subjected to during his reign.

Arsenal head coach says Bruce should have been treated with more respect and wants a “round table” discussion in a bid to try and prevent others from experiencing the same sort of torment.

I was really sad after reading that statement from…

Harry Maguire is fit enough to be involved in England s Euro 2020 clash with Scotland on Friday, Gareth Southgate has confirmed.

But the Three Lions boss also revealed he has yet to make a decision over whether the defender is ready to feature from the start at Wembley.

Maguire has been out of action since sustaining an ankle injury during a Manchester United win over Aston Villa in early May.

However, he was included in England s squad this summer regardless and, according to his manager, is now nearing a return to the pitch.

Southgate said: Harry will be involved tomorrow. The decision we have got to make is whether he s ready to start but we re really pleased with his progress. 

He s trained with the team for four or five days now and had no …

Sulley Muntari s agent has announced the Ghana international will not be making a permanent move to Sunderland in the close season.

Muntari, 26, is on loan at the English Premier League club from Serie A side Inter Milan.

An FA Cup winner in 2008 with Portsmouth, the midfielder has made seven appearances and scored one goal since agreeing a temporary move back to England in January.

But he is apparently unlikely to remain at the Stadium of Light beyond the end of the season, with his agent Fabien Piveteau claiming Sunderland are not prepared to finance a transfer.

There is no chance at Sunderland for Sulley, Piveteau said. They have decided he is too expensive.

According to Piveteau, Muntari s international teammate John Mensah has better odds…

Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi continued their EFL Cup love affairs as Liverpool edged past Preston North End 2-0 at Deepdale on Wednesday. 

Japan international Minamino made it five goals in four EFL Cup appearances before Origi scored for the 11th time in his 10th start in the competition with an impressively improvised backheel volley. 

Having been fortunate not to go behind in the first half when Sean Maguire, Ryan Ledson and Brad Potts failed to take their chances, Minamino made the breakthrough for Liverpool in the 62nd minute. 

The Premier League giants dominated possession throughout and were sure of a place in the quarter-finals for just the second time in five seasons after Origi somehow flicked the ball home with six minutes remaining. 

Aston Villa have confirmed the arrival of Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given on a five-year contract.

The 35-year-old Republic of Ireland international completed a medical at Villa Park over the weekend before finalising his move on Monday for an undisclosed fee, becoming Alex McLeish s first signing as club manager.

Given joined City in 2009 but found himself play second fiddle behind Joe Hart last English Premier League season, and the lure of first-team football was something that attracted him to the Midlands club.

Aston Villa is a huge football club and I m really excited to be joining, Given told the club’s official website.

I m looking forward to training and playing with the players here. They re a good bunch of lads, very talented and I k…

Brazilian defender Lucio has put an end to the speculation linking him with a move away from Inter by extending his deal at Giuseppe Meazza.

The Brazil international was linked with a number of top European clubs this summer as he had one year left on his deal.

The speculations mounted as the player looked unable to reach an agreement with club chiefs over the new deal, but it appears that the two parties have eventually agreed on a new contract.

The club have revealed that Lucio has signed a two-year extension until June 2014, thus putting an end to the speculations.

The 33-year-old was initially offered a one-year extension, but his agent managed to persuade Inter chiefs into offering his client a contract until June 2014.

Lucio has been an int…

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero declared on Friday he will not leave the club until they win the UEFA Champions League.

Just two days after City lost 2-1 at home to CSKA Moscow, with Fernandinho and Yaya Toure getting sent off, Aguero stayed positive, claiming he will keep extending his contract at the Etihad Stadium until they taste continental success.

Aguero signed a five-year deal in August, which will keep him at the club until June 2019.

Not only will I stay the four years to make it eight here in total, I ll stay beyond that — until we win it [the Champions League], the Argentine striker said.

Aguero insists City can recover from collecting just two points in their first four matches in Group E to overhaul CSKA and Roma to qualify for the …

Paul Pogba has declared that four Serie A titles are not enough to satisfy him as champions Juventus prepare to host Carpi on Saturday in their first match since clinching this season s Scudetto.

Juve defeated Fiorentina 2-1 in a thrilling encounter last Sunday, before sealing their fifth consecutive title when closest rivals Napoli lost to Roma the following day.

Massimiliano Allegri s men have now won five straight titles, four of which have come since Pogba s move to Turin from Manchester United in 2012.

But in-demand Pogba is not finished yet when it comes to his title tally and reiterated his commitment to Juve as he prepares for a crucial period that will see him take part in the Coppa Italia final against AC Milan on May 21 before representing hosts Franc…

Algeria have allowed Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez to leave camp in order to finalise a transfer before the window closes.

Mahrez has been linked with moves to Roma, Manchester United, Barcelona and Arsenal, and the 2015-16 Premier League winner is now nearing an exit from Leicester.

As Algeria prepare for a World Cup qualifier against Zambia, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) confirmed on Wednesday that it has granted the 26-year-old attacker permission to formalise his playing future.

Mahrez has featured in all three Premier League fixtures for Leicester this season, setting up two goals.

AUTORISÉ À ALLER OFFICIALISER SON TRANSFERT VERS SON NOUVEAU CLUB

— Les Verts d Algérie (@LesVerts)

Algeria – bottom of Group B with …