Arsene Wenger denies Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez is close to £70m PSG transfer

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied that Alexis Sanchez is on the verge of a £70m move to Paris St Germain.

Sanchez's future at the club remains in doubt as his current deal expires next year and is no closer to agreeing an extension.

The Chile striker, who did not travel with the Arsenal squad on pre-season tour because he has been given extended holiday after the Confederations' Cup, has been spotted in Paris.

He allegedly met with PSG sporting director Antero Henrique at the Royal Monceau Raffles hotel, sparking more speculation that a move could be close. But Wenger insisted: "It is only media imagination."

PSG are reportedly prepared to pay him the £400,000-a-week wages that he has been asking of Arsenal.

Sanchez is also wanted by Manchester City, but Arsenal are determined not to sell to a Premier League rival.

It has been suggested they would be more willing to agree a transfer with a foreign club, but Wenger added: "No, I don't think it makes any difference."

The Arsenal boss was speaking after seeing his side comfortably beaten 3-0 by Chelsea in a pre-season friendly at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing.

They were outplayed for long periods, but Wenger sees no cause for alarm having played a total of four games and flown thousands of miles on a pre-season tour taking in Sydney Australia, Shanghai and China.

He said: "It was the last day of our tour and it was quite long and we looked a bit jaded. It was the impact of heat and games

"I think the impact is small, but we are tired because we worked hard. It is normal that the players are a bit tired after two weeks of intense preparation.

"This week we had two intense games (one against Bayern Munich) as well. It is better to have played two big teams and see the potential of the squad."

There was a lot of confusion when Olivier Giroud, who has also been linked with a move away, appeared as a second half substitute despite not being named on the official team-sheet.

It took several minutes for the change to take place though and Wenger said: "I don't know why he wasn't on the list, they didn't want to let him play. Then it was an argument and finally they realised from somewhere in the sky and he could play."