Emiliano Sala's family view search area off Guernsey

Emiliano Sala (left) was on board a plane being flown by pilot David Ibbotson (right)

The family of missing Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala are planning an underwater search.

Family spokesman David Mearns told a press conference that a private search of the English Channel, paid for by fundraisers, also included fishing boats and other vessels.

The underwater search is expected to begin on Sunday.

Meanwhile the family has been taken on a plane to see the area that rescuers have been searching.

They left Guernsey Airport at about 09:30 GMT on a chartered flight with harbourmaster David Barker.

Sala's sister Romina and mother Mercedes arrived on the island on Sunday and a family spokesman said they were struggling for answers.

The family travelled on a twin-engine Dornier 228-212 plane which flew from Guernsey and circled the island of Alderney.

The family's flight leaving Guernsey Airport

Mr Mearns told a press conference on Monday: "We would like to thank all the people and all the companies that have offered their help," he said.

"We have been planning an underwater search as a next phase... there are still boats on the water... and people are still looking."

Speaking of Sala and the football community's reaction, Mr Mearns added: "He's a really friendly person that people loved - from both clubs and any other clubs, and that's where you see the breath of the football community coming together in an extraordinarily short period of time to raise this type of money.

"So, obviously the family appreciate that, but their minds have been in a different place this week."

The family was shown the search area which included Burhou Island near Alderney

An official search for 28-year-old Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, 59, of Crowle, Lincolnshire, was called off on Thursday, with Mr Barker saying the chance of them being alive was "extremely remote".

But, after a plea from his sister not to give up, more than £290,000 was raised for a private search to continue - which is being led by Mr Mearns, said to be a renowned shipwreck hunter.

High-profile donors to the GoFundMe page include France and PSG forward Kylian Mbappe, former West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet and Leicester City winger Demarai Gray.

More than 4,000 people have donated to the page.

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Ms Sala said of her brother: "He's a fighter, he started his football career from very little... He's a very humble, family man.

"He was always joking, he was very keen to stay with the family all the time and we know he's here somewhere and we are here to bring him back".

Speaking for the first time since Sala disappeared, Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock said he could understand Sala's family's stance on keeping the search going.

"If it was my kid I'd want everybody looking forever," he said at a press conference on Monday.

"It's by far the most difficult week in my career. Even now I can't get my head round the situation," he said.

"When I look at Romina and the family, it's such a difficult time. I keep looking at my own children and thinking what I would be doing now, as well."

Mr Warnock added he believed he had also been flown by Mr Ibbotson.

"I'd been on a couple of planes like that, but I think the ones I'd be on might have had two engines.

"But I'd been over the top to Nantes a couple of times, and I do think I had that pilot - who I thought was a fabulous pilot.

"So I just can't comprehend it."

Emiliano Sala was on board a plane bound for Cardiff from Nantes when it disappeared from radar

Argentine striker Sala signed for the Bluebirds from Nantes on Saturday, 19 January and was flying back to Wales from France when the plane disappeared from radar last Monday evening.

At 19:15 GMT, Mr Ibbotson made a request to descend before losing contact with Jersey air traffic control.

Mr Mearns said they had travelled to Guernsey to be near where the plane was last located and to find out about the investigation and what happens next.

He said: "This is a family that has come from Argentina with this huge shock out of nowhere and is struggling with very, very few answers about an unexplained loss."

He added the family "still have some hope", saying: "They're looking at this as a missing person, a missing plane and until they are satisfied, that's the mode that we are in."

Sala's family arrived at Guernsey Airport on Sunday

Romina Sala visited Cardiff last week and said she believes both Emiliano and the pilot are alive

Mr Mearns said the private search would entail "more investigative technical searches underwater" at some point.

The family have also thanked donors for their "exceptional generosity" after money was raised to pay for a private search.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has begun an investigation which will look at "all operational aspects," including licensing and flight plans.

The PA-46-310P Malibu aircraft Sala and Mr Ibbotson were on board

Tributes have been left outside the Cardiff City Stadium