Arsenal rush to tie up Ozil and Sanchez
Arsenal are trying to bring a swift conclusion to protracted contract talks with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
|||London - Arsenal are trying to bring a swift conclusion to protracted contract talks with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
After splashing more than £80million during the summer transfer window, Arsenal are now focusing on new deals for the pair.
The futures of English trio Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs are less certain, despite the fact they have entered into the final two years of their contracts.
Ozil and Sanchez have made a huge impact since arriving but they both have less than two years left on their existing contracts.
Both will be offered pay increases. Ozil is currently on £140 000 a week and Sanchez on £130 000. The club are confident Ozil will sign but there is not so much optimism over Sanchez, who wants a big pay rise and also a buy-out clause.
Manager Arsene Wenger has not always found the Chile international easy to manage. The former Barcelona forward was desperate to play every game last season, and made clear his discontent if rested or substituted.
Wenger has outlined to Sanchez his plans to play him as a central striker while making it clear he will have to accept being rested.
There does not seem to be the same urgency over new deals for Wilshere, Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain with Arsenal yet to open formal talks.
The delay opens up the prospect of all three entering the final 12 months of their present contracts - a scenario Arsenal always look to avoid when it comes to key players.
Wenger will not rule Petr Cech out of Arsenal’s Champions League games despite hinting that David Ospina will be his European keeper this season.
Ospina played well against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, producing a string of outstanding saves. Wenger suggested that Ospina will be his Champions League goalkeeper but now says he will decide on a match-by-match basis.
Daily Mail