COMMENT: 425,000 quid a week. 425,000 a week to sign with Bayern Munich. For Arsenal fans, there's actually hope in Alexis Sanchez's crazy demand put to Rummenigge and co last week.

Of course they were going to say 'no'. Bayern's a bank, sure. But even they wouldn't consider such terms - especially for a player yet to reach the Ballon d'Or dais.

But Alexis was taking the mick. It was a throw away gesture. The Chilean doesn't want to live in Munich. He has no interest in playing for Bayern. Fernando Felicevich, Alexis' agent, does. Oh yeah, he does. He's been camped in Munich, laying the foundations since Wembley. But Alexis isn't bothered, hence the demand: 'yeah I'll sign with you, if you give me this...'.

And that's where Gooners can draw hope. They can scratch Bayern as a threat. If Alexis was serious about the Bundesliga. If he really had wanted a move to the Allianz. Then his proposal would've been realistic. That Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the club's chief exec, allowed Alexis' demands to reach the local press said it all. Sorry Fernando, this option is dead in the water.

So the Chilean is still in play. Manchester City remain in the mix. And in Santiago they say a deal is practically done. But the door hasn't been shut on Arsenal. Alexis is happy in London. He enjoys where he's living. As does Atom and Humber, his two dogs. And in a perfect world, that new contract would already be inked.

Arsenal are trying. Arsene Wenger. Ivan Gazidis. Whatever has been relayed to Alexis about revamps and overhauls, he couldn't fault their effort.

He'll know of their trip to France last week. We all did. It was no coincidence that both manager Wenger and his chief exec were snapped in Nice. It was a show of force from the pair. A sign to Alexis, Mesut Ozil and to the support: Things are happening.

The club record bid for Kylian Mbappe. Asking after his Monaco teammate Thomas Lemar. A visit to Cap Ferrat and the luxury home of Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas. It was a busy few days for Wenger and Gazidis. And all documented by the world press.

Alexis, lad, they're trying.

And then it broke over the weekend. A change in Wenger's backroom staff. A big one. Darren Burgess, the former Liverpool fitness coach, had agreed in principle to leave his job in Adelaide, Australia, and return to the Premier League. Where that leaves Tony Colbert, only Wenger knows. But change is occurring.

Then Monday, it emerged Dick Law was being handed support. Huss Fahmy, from Team Sky, would be joining the front office. His speciality? Player contracts. Are you watching Alexis?

What they can control, they're changing. The staff overhaul is happening. A week ago, we learned none of the manager's key personnel had seen their deals renewed. And there hasn't been a peep on the subject since. Things are occurring. And Wenger is going along with it.

Sure, Monaco, Lyon, or whomever else they're in touch with need to be persuaded to give up their players. But the effort is now being made. And it's being done early doors. The thought of your typical scramble from Arsenal in the final week of the transfer window, for now, doesn't have credence. Again, you have to give it to Wenger, he is trying. He is changing.

Which is where Alexis comes in. On his side of the table are the demands. Certainly, the pay-rise. But also the signings. The striker wants assurances a team will be built around him capable of competing for titles. He wants to see money spent. Big names arrive. It hasn't happened yet. But Wenger is trying.

But what about Alexis? Standing on the sidelines. Allowing confidants to make it known everything's up in the air. That there's no certainty about where he'll be playing next season. That's not exactly helpful.

And he can help. The obvious and easiest solution is penning that new deal. But it doesn't have to go that far. Simply letting it be known that he is willing to stay - as Ozil has been doing since the New Year - would go some way in helping Wenger with his negotiations.

Mbappe. Lemar. Alexandre Lacazette. They want to play for Wenger. But also, they want to join a team on the up. Knowing Alexis is prepared to stay would only help his manager convince others to make the move to North London.

Alexis wants a show of ambition from Arsenal. And Wenger is trying. Sanchez needs to take a leaf out of his on-field self and get involved. That change he's demanding can be met, with a bit of support from himself.