Arsenal remain confident of pushing through a £30 million deal for Chile winger Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona and expect to complete the signing of France defender Mathieu Debuchy later this week.

Sanchez is understood to have instructed his representatives to close negotiations with the Gunners after deciding against offers from both Liverpool and Juventus.

Reports in Spain suggest Barcelona have accepted Sanchez’s desire to leave and head to London rather than Anfield, where he could have been used as a makeweight in a potential deal for Luis Suarez.

Some of the Arsenal squad, including Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, had their first pre-season fitness training session at London Colney yesterday, under the watchful eye of assistant manager Steve Bould, with Arsene Wenger still out at the World Cup on media duty for French TV.

Carl Jenkinson was another put through his paces, and the right-back is expected to face competition for a starting place from Debuchy next season with the France international set to finalise the formalities of his £10 million switch from Newcastle in the coming days.

There was positive news from the Gunners camp yesterday as Abou Diaby, a long-term injury absentee last season, was able to take part in the fitness sessions and could yet prove an asset next season.

Despite Wenger not being on site, Arsenal have remained busy in their summer recruitment drive.

Defensive cover is needed following the departure of Bacary Sagna to Man. City, while goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has joined Swansea.

The signing of Sanchez, though, would present another major move by the Gunners, who smashed their transfer record at the end of last year’s summer window to bring in Ozil from Real Madrid.

A defensive midfielder is also said to be on Wenger’s wanted list, with Lars Bender at Bayer Leverkusen a long-term target.