There's something about Alexis Sanchez's performances this season that suggests he has already mentally checked out of Arsenal.

The Gunners' top scorer last season with 24 league goals has managed just four at the midway point of the current campaign.

The 29-year-old has come under fire from some sections of the Emirates for his attitude too, as he's frequently looked dejected and disheartened.

A Deadline Day move to Manchester City failed to materialise after Arsenal's Thomas Lemar deal collapsed, leaving the Chilean running down his contract, which ends in the summer.

Arsene Wenger has continuously reiterated his desire for him to stay in north London, yet the club must weigh up whether it's worth cashing in on him in January or squeezing another six months out of him and losing him for nothing.

According to the Mirror, that decision may already have been made for them. It's claimed the player himself and City are both planning to seal a deal in the summer rather than in the New Year.

Why? The fact that the Citizens won't have to pay a transfer fee means they will be able to offer him even higher wages, a factor which has been a major stumbling block in his negotiations with Arsenal.

Crazy money

The money in offer will be £325,000-a-week - and that's before image rights, which will add on another £75,000-a-week.

Incredible sums - those numbers even dwarf what Paul Pogba picks up at Manchester United, which is believed to be in the region of £280,000.

If City don't make their move in January, they are admittedly playing a risky game, as Paris Saint-Germain are also monitoring Sanchez, per the same source.

That said, his desire to link up with Pep Guardiola again is obviously genuine. It's easy to criticise him given the wages on offer, but he could easily have earned similar figures if he'd acted on interest from the Chinese Super League.

One man who doesn't sound too bothered about his inevitable departure, whenever it finally happens, is legendary striker Ian Wright.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, he discussed the possibility of his old club losing a forward who was once thought irreplaceable and came out with a surprising verdict:

"The way he's playing now, I can't see how that is going to hurt Arsenal," he said.

"People looking in who are potential buyers, what are they thinking about him and his attitude?"

Do Man City actually need Alexis Sanchez? Have your say in the comments.