Udinese have denied that Alexis Sanchez has refused to meet with Manchester City.

Reports had suggested that the striker declined to fly out to Manchester - even though City have offered the highest bid for the player - because he prefers the prospect of signing with Barcelona.

The Blues are understood to have offered £35.8m plus a further £4.5m in bonuses, while Barca had put forward £33.9m plus the transfer of Jeffren. Manchester United are also in the frame with the lowest offer of £27m.

Gino Pozzo, son of Udinese president Giampaolo Pozzo has now revealed that while Barcelona’s deal is the club’s favourite, Sanchez himself has not disclosed such a preference.

“I can say that Barcelona have the advantage over Manchester City right now,” Sky Sports News quotes Pozzo as saying. “The player has not manifested any particular preference, although naturally we will listen to his opinion.

“We haven’t concluded any deal yet because there are still some details to work through.”

Sanchez is currently in his native Chile preparing for the Copa America.