Arsenal ready to take £200m gamble as Arsene Wenger seeks to keep unsettled stars for another season

  • Several of Arsenal's big names are in the final year of their contracts at the club
  • Likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil could leave for nothing next summer
  • Wenger is adamant he will have the final say on who stays and who goes 

Arsene Wenger insists he has the backing of the Arsenal board to keep his out of contract stars at the club even if it means writing off upwards of £200million.

The Gunners have a host of players — namely Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain — who are in the final year of their contracts.

That means Arsenal are now facing the prospect of losing their top stars for nothing at the end of the season.

Arsene Wenger insists he has the backing of the Arsenal board to keep his out of contract stars

Arsene Wenger insists he has the backing of the Arsenal board to keep his out of contract stars

In today’s market Sanchez, Ozil and Oxlade-Chamberlain would be worth a total of around £150m.


In addition, the club’s other out-of-contract stars including Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs, Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy would be worth at least £50m to Arsenal in the transfer market.

But despite the prospect of missing out on around £200m in transfer fees, Wenger is adamant he will have the final say on who stays and who goes.

And the Arsenal manager is adamant Sanchez, Ozil and Oxlade-Chamberlain are going nowhere this summer.

When asked specifically about whether all three would would definitely be staying at the Emirates, the Gunners boss refused to guarantee the trio would remain in north London past the August 31 deadline — but still insisted that his star men would not be sold.

Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are in the final year of their contracts

Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are in the final year of their contracts

‘One hundred per cent never exists, because in our job never exists,’ said Wenger.

‘But today, yes. I think all the three will stay. I will fight for them to stay.

‘It’s my decision, but after the board has to, of course, agree with me.

‘And if they don’t agree we have to consider it as well, and I will accept it. But the board is behind me on that.

‘(Keeping them) It is a financial sacrifice. It is a sacrifice that you have to calculate, how much it costs.

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez has been linked with summer move to Manchester City

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez has been linked with summer move to Manchester City

‘All that is taken into consideration, the financial sacrifice is not as heavy as it looks. I am a football manager, I want Sanchez to stay, and that’s it.

‘After that, all the financial implications, for me, is less important. But at the end of the day you have to afford it as well.’

Wenger has been unequivocal about Sanchez’s summer during the course of the summer, insisting he will not be sold under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, Valencia are showing a keen interest in Arsenal defender Gabriel.

The Brazilian is way down the defensive pecking order at the Emirates and could be tempted by a return to Spain.

Arsenal are desperate to offload a number of fringe players this summer, but their attempts have hit the buffers due to wage demands and asking prices.

 

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