Pep Guardiola expects a number of top clubs to try and sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal this summer

The Chilean will enter the final year of his contract at the end of the season

Guardiola signed Sanchez for Barcelona in 2011 (Getty)

Pep Guardiola is expecting a number of top clubs to be keeping tabs on Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez this summer as the Chilean enters the final year of his contract – and has hinted Manchester City could be one of them.

Sanchez was signed by Guardiola while he was manager at Barcelona and the Gunners are expected to cash in on him at the end of the season if he makes it clear he won’t be signing a new contract.

City are one of a number of clubs linked with Sanchez, along with Juventus, Chelsea and clubs from the Chinese Super League.

Sanchez is keen to stay in London, making Chelsea favourites to sign the forward – especially given how he fits into Antonio Conte’s philosophy – and Guardiola believes there will be a long list of admirers should he leave.

“Put it that Kevin De Bruyne had one year left on his contract, see how many teams would have him,” Guardiola said. “Normally the big players have two, three years (on a) contract.

“All the clubs in the summertime are going to try to improve. How do you improve the teams? Better players. Of course (people will watch) all the players around the world. Alexis is one of them. They are going to know his situation.”

Sanchez never truly established himself at the Nou Camp but Guardiola points out that all players look inferior at Barca when compared to Lionel Messi.

“Messi creates that,” said Guardiola, whose side face Sanchez and Arsenal in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

“All players that go there and start training with them realise immediately they cannot compete, they will always be below (Messi).

“Even the big players that believe they are top, they go there and they understand. Messi is unique.

“But Alexis is just one step below, a fantastic player. I am so happy how he is playing there, especially this year, scoring goals and assists and so on.

“The quality means when Arsenal were tied - free-kick, goal. Good players make these kind of things, the difference. Alexis is a player of that level.”