Arsenal identify Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus as potential replacement for Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal have identified Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus as the player to replace Alexis Sanchez at the Emirates if the forward decides to leave the Emirates due to a contract dispute.

The Chilean international made a switch to the north London club in the summer of 2014 and has been a key player for the Gunners. His and Mesut Ozil's contracts will run down at the end of the next season and the duo are yet to agree new deals.

Sanchez has already expressed his desire to sign a new deal if Arsenal make the right offer. According to the Daily Mail, the Premier League are willing to break the £200,000-a-week barrier to retain the South American star, who has already received a £400,000-a-week offer from China.

The contract talks have stalled between the two parties, despite the Gunners' desire to hold on to their key player. Arsenal fear Sanchez could leave the club due to the ongoing dispute over his future.

Arsene Wenger has made Reus his transfer target as fear grows that Arsenal could lose Sanchez. The latter has been instrumental in his new role as the Frenchman has fielded him as the main striker this season, ahead of Olivier Giroud.

Reus has long been a transfer target for the Emirates club, but no move materialised in the past. The German international's current deal at the Signal Iduna Park will expire in 2019 and has been struggling with injuries in recent times.

The Daily Mail report claims the Dortmund star could get a huge pay rise if he decides to leave the Bundesliga outfit for Arsenal. It is likely that the Gunners will only make an approach for Reus, if Sanchez decides to leave the London club.