Pep Guardiola responds to Alexis Sanchez speculation

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has refused to discuss the speculation linking Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez with a winter switch to the Etihad.

The Chile international was close to sealing a £60m move to the Citizens last summer, but the move collapsed on deadline day with the Gunners failing to find a suitable replacement.

Guardiola's men have since been tipped to make a fresh approach in the New Year with an exclusive from The Sun suggesting that a fee of around £30m could be sufficient to do business.

However, when probed on the Sanchez link, Guardiola refused to confirm or deny the ongoing speculation while remaining respectful to the opposition manager.

"He's an Arsenal player. His manager had to speak to him. You know the situation - before the transfer window was open, and now it is closed," he told reporters, as per ESPN.

"He's an Arsenal player and is so important for them, for his talent that he has, you have to try and control him." 

Sanchez, who has notched one goal and two assists in the Premier League this season, is expected to feature when the Gunners make the trip to Manchester to take on the table-toppers on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal are currently nine points adrift of the league leaders, and Arsene Wenger will be determined to secure a positive result in order to stay in the title race.