Alexis Sanchez, Aaron Ramsey back for Arsenal's final preseason games

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey will both be involved in the final preseason games, easing some of the side's fitness concerns.

Sanchez has returned to training in London this week after missing the Gunners' U.S. tour because of an ankle injury he sustained in the Copa America final in June. Ramsey was also expected back on Monday after his holiday following Wales' run to the Euro 2016 semifinals, and Wenger said both players will be in the squad for Arsenal's friendly games in Norway and Sweden.

However, the likes of Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud -- who all played at Euro 2016 -- will miss those games as well, while earlier Wenger revealed that midfielder Santi Cazorla may not be fully fit at the start of the season.

"Not all of [the international players will be back]," Wenger told the Arsenal website. "But Ramsey will be involved, Sanchez will be involved.

"The latest players coming back will not be involved, that's Ozil, Giroud and Koscielny, they are the last ones and I don't think they will be involved on the tour on Thursday, but all the others will."

The return of Sanchez should be a big boost to the Gunners, especially if Giroud isn't ready to play in the Premier League opener against Liverpool on Aug. 14. Wenger is searching for a new striker in the transfer window, but has said any deal could drag out until the end of August.

Arsenal beat Mexican club Chivas 3-1 in Los Angeles in the second game of their California tour and play Norwegian club Viking in Stavanger on Friday before facing Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in Gothenburg on Sunday in their final warm-up game.

Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Bayern ‘tracking Dier, Juve ‘target Alexis’, Man Utd ‘in Pogba talks’

It was quite a good season for Tottenham and Arsenal last year, apart from the fact that they both thought they would win the league because all they had to do was finish above Leicester and then they didn’t, but the north London duo may find it even harder to overtake the Foxes next season if Sunday’s Hot Football Transfer Gossip is to be believed.

Both clubs could lose key players to bigger, better teams, with Bayern Munich reportedly monitoring Eric Dier and Juventus keen on Alexis Sanchez.

After being impressed by Dier’s displays at Euro 2016, the Sunday People says Bayern are doing “background checks” on the England midfielder, during which they will probably uncover the fact that he is actually Portuguese and then his composure on the ball will start to make sense. Hopefully they don’t uncover anything dodgy though, like that he collects Barbie dolls or voted Leave.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Express says Gunners forward Sanchez is Juve’s “number one target” to replace Alvaro Morata. The Italians only received £23m for the Spanish striker and Alexis would probably cost double that, but the Turin club will have no shortage of funds if they flog Paul Pogba.

Manchester United are once again linked with the enigmatic Frenchman today, with the Sunday Telegraph stating that Jose Mourinho is “in talks” to sign the midfielder, but that the Red Devils would have to pay a world record fee of up to €135m, which at post-Brexit exchange rates will probably be something like £250m.

It’s a busy weekend for Mourinho, with the Observer reporting that United are also “closing in” on deals for Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 

The club are reportedly confident that Dortmund will accept their offer of £30m for the Armenian playmaker, while Zlatan doesn’t have much else going on anymore, following Sweden’s feeble exit from the Euros.

The Daily Star Sunday says that Mourinho has also made a £30m bid for Wolfsburg’s German international midfielder Julian Draxler, although he’ll probably only sign him if for some reason the Mkhitaryan transfer doesn’t go through, and if for some reason Draxler actually wants to come.

All these incomings could be bad news for Morgan Schneiderlin, who the Sunday Mirror says could be allowed to leave Old Trafford to join Everton. New Toffees boss Ronald Koeman is ready to pay £20m for the midfielder he sold to United last year for £25m. Would that mean he’d be buying him back at a profit or a loss?

West Ham’s pursuit of Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette is looking distinctly less promising based on the Sunday Mirror’s claim that Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are now interested in the Frenchman too. Or maybe it was Lacazette’s agent who told them that.

Elsewhere, Tottenham could face competition from Paris Saint-German for Dutch striker Vincent Janssen (L'Equipe), Stoke will complete the £16m signing of Saido Berahino this week (People) and Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez is set to make a £10m bid for Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie (Sun on Sunday). Ah, now it all makes sense - Benitez doesn’t actually realise that the Magpies have been relegated to the Championship!

Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil demand big summer signings before discussing new contracts

MESUT OZIL and Alexis Sanchez have put talks over a new contract on hold until the end of the season following their dramatic slump in form.

The attacking duo are Arsenal's two most expensive signings and remain crucial to the club's ambitions.

With two years left on their contracts respectively, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger had been hopeful of securing their long-term futures.

But according to The Times, talks have failed to progress and have apparently been shelved until the summer.

It is claimed Ozil and Sanchez want around £160,000-a-week in wages and need convincing the Arsenal squad will be strengthened by signings in the summer.

The likes of Granit Xhaka, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Leicester youngster Ben Chilwell have all been linked with a move to the Emirates.

Ozil and Sanchez are also said to want reassurances that Arsenal will fight for the Premier League and Champions League next season.

After being top of the league in January, Arsenal have slipped to fourth in the league, just four points above Manchester United.

And they now face a battle to salvage their season by qualifying for next season's Champions League.