Arsenal would rather sell Alexis Sanchez to Chelsea than lose him for nothing, claims Paul Merson

Former Arsenal star Paul Merson is convinced that the Gunners will consider selling Alexis Sanchez to Chelsea next summer.

Sanchez has 14 months remaining on his contract and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed that talks with both the Chilean and Mesut Ozil have been postponed until the end of the season as the club look to reverse their drastic slump in form.

The Chilean is of interest to several of Europe’s leading clubs, including Paris St Germain and Juventus, and Arsenal are prepared to consider offers of around £50million for Sanchez if

However Wenger has insisted on several occasions that his side are no longer obliged to sell their top players to their domestic rivals, as they did when the likes of Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor were sold off during a time when Arsenal laboured under the debt that came from the Emirates Stadium project.

​Merson, though, believes he knows better and has claimed that the Arsenal hierarchy would rather sell him to a direct rival than risk losing him on a free 12 months later.

“I think Sanchez will leave this summer,” Merson said to Sporting Life.

“I don't think Arsenal will finish in the top four and if they don't finish in the top four then I don't see him staying.

“I know the way Arsenal work so there is no way they will let Sanchez leave for nothing if they can get £50m for him in the summer.

“They will have no qualms in selling him to Chelsea. Arsenal will have no choice - if Chelsea are the team that are prepared to pay £50m then Arsenal won't let him see his contract out.

“People say, 'Oh well, they won't sell to Chelsea', but they sold Robin van Persie to Manchester United so they won't be fussed about that.

“I definitely think Sanchez could be a Chelsea player next season. He is a world-class footballer so he would fit in at Chelsea.

“People say he is not the same player but he will get you a lot more goals than Hazard. If they can sign Sanchez for £50m and get £100m for Hazard then I think that is good business.”