Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil won’t sign new contracts with Arsenal and want to leave the club, according to the latest reports.
Arsenal’s star duo Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil won’t sign new contracts, despite their current deals ending in 2018. A report from Matt Hughes of The Times has revealed how Sanchez wants a move away this summer, while Ozil is willing to wait for his terms to expire:
"Sánchez’s contract expires in 12 months but he is determined to force his way out of the club this summer to join Bayern Munich. Özil, who joined from Real Madrid for £42 million in 2013, is preparing to run down his contract to increase the prospect of securing a free transfer when his deal runs out next summer."
The news both his marquee players want to leave is a major blow for Arsene Wenger. Particularly on the heels of the manager confirming he has signed a new deal to stay in charge for two more years, per the club’s official website.
Even before agreeing new terms of his own, Wenger had been trying to convince Ozil and Sanchez to stay. In fact, the Frenchman was ready to offer the pair massive new contracts, per Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph:
"Ozil is understood already to have been offered more than £250,000 a week and the club are ready to go to around £280,000 for both him and Sanchez."
Speaking after Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup final win over Chelsea at Wembley Stadium, Wenger made clear the importance of keeping this squad together, per the Telegraph‘s Jason Burt.
However, losing both Ozil and Sanchez would be a bitter blow for the Gunners chief. The latter was Arsenal’s talisman this season, proving to be Wenger’s most lethal striker since a certain Dutchman, according to Squawka Football:
Alexis Sanchez is the first Arsenal player to score 30+ goals across all competitions in a single season since Robin van Persie in 2011/12. pic.twitter.com/ImM0hIzM6V
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 27, 2017
As for Ozil, he also showed a flair for finding the net, after scoring 12 times this season, per WhoScored.com.
Wenger’s men are match for anybody when the Sanchez-Ozil double act is clicking. Having to replace them would surely drastically alter Arsenal’s transfer plans this summer.
Wenger is already being linked with a move worth £40 million for Riyad Mahrez by Neil Ashton of The Sun, after the Leicester winger asked to leave.
Next: Riyad Mahrez asks for transfer from Leicester
Mahrez is a talent, but those who doubt whether Arsenal can seriously challenge for next season’s title will tip the Gunners to struggle mightily without Ozil and Sanchez.