Alexis Sanchez cleared for Arsenal transfer as Barcelona try to raise Luis Suarez cash

Metro Sport ReporterFriday 4 Jul 2014 10:15 pm

Arsenal are pushing to sign Alexis Sanchez this summer (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Alexis Sanchez as Barcelona look to hurry through his sale – in order to raise funds for their signing of Luis Suarez.

The Gunners have been in advanced negotiations for Sanchez in the last few days, but are yet to agree on a fee with Barca.

However, Spanish newspaper Vozpopuli,who broke the news of Arsenal’s interest in Sanchez, says a deal is getting close.

Barca chiefs want to offload the 25-year-old as soon as possible in order to raise funds for their £63million deal for Suarez.

Arsene Wenger, at the World Cup in Brazil, is being kept up to date with talks (Picture: Getty)

Liverpool are believed to have initially accepted their bid for the Uruguay striker, but a payment plan has not been finalised.

The Reds want the cash up front but Barca can’t do that unless they can move Sanchez on quickly.

Arsenal’s opening £19.8million bid for Sanchez is still on the table, but Barca are keen to get a fee of about £26million for the Chilean.

Further negotiations are expected to take place over the weekend in a bid to find an agreement that everybody is happy with.