Chelsea Fans hopeful Alexis Sanchez deal announcement at press conference - Photos.

This is going to be one of a good news in a year for the Blues fans world wide. Chelsea fans are desperate for Antonio Conte to announce the signing of Alexis Sanchez at his press conference this afternoon.

The Blues last night attempted to hijack Manchester United's deal for Alexis Sanchez as Manchester City pulled out of the running for the Arsenal striker.

Chelsea tweeted today: “We'll be hearing from Antonio Conte at 1.15pm today!”

And it immediately got them excited that they would get an update on Sanchez.

One replied to Chelsea and said: “We should hear a confirmation by then.”

Another wrote: “Announce Sanchez.”

A fellow fan said: “Imagine scenes if we sign sanchez but I am not having my hopes up... but please auba will do so good.”

One supporter tried to dupe Twitter users by mocking up a Chelsea Twitter account - then wrote: “Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.”

Despite Chelsea’s interest, United still believe they will land Sanchez after matching the Gunners' valuation of £35million, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan likely to be thrown into a cash plus player deal.

But Chelsea boss Antonio Conte's sudden interest gave a new twist to the saga.

United boss Jose Mourinho said last night: "There is no news on Alexis Sanchez, he is an Arsenal player. If he stays it's great for Arsenal. If he comes to us, great for us. If he goes to another club, great for them."

Mourinho admitted other clubs are in for the player. He said: "I'm not confident but also not - what is the opposite? - unconfident. I'm just relaxed.

"If he moves I think we have a chance but most probably a player like him has other big clubs interested and who knows?" 

Chelsea's move to lure the striker to Stamford Bridge instead of Old Trafford will only add further spark to the on-going spat between Conte and Mourinho. 

If Sanchez chooses United, the package is likely to cost the club about £65m - £35m for the transfer, a £25m signing-on fee for Sanchez plus £5m for his agent. On top of that comes the Chile international's wages.

United are understood to have offered him £300,000 a week - or £15m a year. Those sort of figures ensured City went cold on a player for whom they bid £60m last summer.

Etihad sources insist they were not prepared to go to those levels when the player becomes a free agent in the summer.

However, Sanchez's desperation to quit the Emirates and United's resolve to gazump their neighbours has played into Arsenal's hands. It means that Sanchez will not be reuniting with Pep Guardiola, who took him to Barcelona from Udinese in 2011.

City have decided to stick to their guns and Guardiola was in full agreement, especially with Gabriel Jesus expected to be fit again next month.

Mkhitaryan was omitted from United's squad and Mourinho said: "I don't think it's easy for a player to play when there are doubts about his future."

Arsenal meanwhile remain interested Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bordeaux's Brazilan forward Malcom.

See more tweets below...