Alexis Sanchez jets in to Barcelona to sign deal

Barcelona are on the brink of signing Udinese star Alexis Sanchez.

Sport says Sanchez will complete a €39m transfer to Barcelona on Monday.

Heading to Barcelona

The Blaugrana increased the pressure on Sanchez after seeing their offer for Giuseppe Rossi rejected by Villarreal. Rossi's agent Federico Pastorello has now conceded defeat and expects Barca to make Sanchez the latest addition to their famous attack, despite interest from Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Juventus and Inter.

They have upped the price to €39m and it’s even suggested the Chile national team has given Sanchez time off from Copa America training to fly in to Barcelona on Monday for his signature.

Manchester United and Manchester City had also been in talks with Sanchez's camp in recent days.

Man Utd close in on £27M Sanchez deal.

Manchester United chief David Gill is in Spain for talks with Udinese star Alexis Sanchez's camp.

The Sun says he hopes to wrap up a £27million transfer for football's most wanted man within the next few days.

The most wanted man in football?

If Gill pulls off the audacious swoop - pipping Manchester City, Barcelona and a host of other European giants - it will take manager Alex Ferguson's summer spending to an amazing £82m.

Gill flew out to meet with Udinese owner Gino Pozzo in Barcelona, where he lives, in a bid to thrash out a deal for a player who is also being tracked by Barcelona and Inter Milan.

It will come as a crushing blow to City. They believed their massive financial clout had swayed the Chilean winger, 22.

But agent Fernando Felicevich said: "An agreement with City? Sanchez's future is still very much wide open.

"We are working on it and, after meetings with City, we have other new appointments."

The 19-time champions are increasingly confident of getting their man, even though £27m is about £4m more than they had originally hoped to pay.

But they have had to up the offer to beat off Barca and City.

The crucial factor in United's favour is that the player himself far prefers the idea of a move to Old Trafford than a switch to Eastlands.

Alexis Sanchez: Started his career in his homeland with Cobreloa