Report: City delegation in Chile to conduct Sanchez medical, finalise contract

Manchester City will extend its footprint to Chile as the club gears up for a frantic transfer deadline day that could include the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.

Before reaching an agreement with Arsenal officials, Manchester City has sent a delegation of officials to Chile in order to finalise a deal with Sanchez while the two clubs negotiate a transfer fee back home, according to The Telegraph's James Ducker.

It's believed that a team of City representatives have arrived in Macul, Santiago with hopes of conducting a medical and negotiating terms of a contract that could see Sanchez earn roughly £325,000 a week, before the British transfer window closes Thursday night at 11 p.m.

Sanchez - who is expected to feature during Chile's World Cup qualifier against Paraguay - reportedly attracted a £50-million bid on Tuesday from City, which was subsequently rejected by Arsenal.

Now it's understood that City is willing to increase its offer to as much as £70 million in order to finalise the transfer Thursday before Britain's 11 p.m. deadline.

However, Sanchez has yet to request time away from the Chilean national team, according to manager Juan Antonio Pizzi, who denied reports that the 28-year-old had asked to leave in order to conduct personal business.

"No. It's absolutely false," Pizzi told reporters, as translated by ESPN FC's Adriana Garcia. "That permission never existed."

Pizzi added: "It's very difficult before the transfer window closes to shed light on his future. In either option (to leave or to stay at Arsenal) his future is very good. There is no reason to be displeased or dissatisfied."

Arsenal is reportedly eager to receive a player in return, plus a significant transfer fee, but City has allegedly rejected the north London team's request that Raheem Sterling be included in the deal.

Ducker reports that Arsenal's failure to include Sterling in a deal could force the club to pursue Julian Draxler of Paris Saint-Germain. But, according to the German's national team coach Joachim Low, a move away from the French capital doesn't appear to be on the horizon.

Sanchez made his season debut Saturday against Liverpool, but was substituted out of the match just after the hour mark with his side trailing 3-0 en route to a 4-0 drubbing.