Alexis Sanchez set for showdown talks with Marseille over a new contract

Alexis Sanchez and his representatives will meet with Olympique Marseille to discuss his future, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.

According to RMC Sport, the Chilean striker wants to continue at the Orange Velodrome beyond this summer, and his agent Fernando Felicevich is in Marseille to negotiate the terms of a new deal.

Marseille are also keen to keep a player of Sanchez’s calibre at the club, but his salary demands will determine the outcome of negotiations.

Sanchez has been a crucial part of Igor Tudor’s squad this season, with the club fighting for a second-place finish in Ligue 1.

The former Arsenal and Barcelona man is Marseille’s top scorer this season, having bagged 14 goals and three assists in 32 league appearances.

His goals have been important to Marseille, who are looking to beat RC Lens to second place, with Paris Saint-Germain on course to defend their Ligue 1 crown.

The Marseille hierarchy are reportedly working behind the scenes to keep Sanchez at the club, with Tudor labelling the striker as ‘irreplaceable’ in his team.

There have been rumours linking Sanchez with an unlikely switch to PSG, but Les Olympiens are reportedly calm about the speculation, with the player expressing a desire to continue with the club.

Sanchez’s agent Felicevich reportedly has a good relationship with the Marseille hierarchy and with sporting director Javier Ribalta in particular.

Both Felicevich and Ribalta are in regular contact and will open talks at the end of the season to decide whether or not to extend Sanchez’s deal for another year.

Sanchez joined Marseille on a free transfer from Inter Milan last summer and has scored 18 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions.

While he wants to remain at Marseille, his future could depend on the club securing Champions League football for next season.