The transfer window has finally closed, and with all our strengthening having been a success this summer, we now look to doing our in-house dealings.
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez were both believed to have held initial talks over new contracts toward the end of the previous season, but nothing was agreed before the campaign was over.
The pair were heavily speculated to want out of the club, whilst a number of potential suitors were also linked with strong interest in signing them, but as you are fully aware, neither left the club, nor pushed to leave at any instance.
The papers have now moved to speculate about their contracts, having enjoyed their summer of making up various stories surrounding their futures, and they now claim to know what they want included in their new contracts.
Sanchez is said to be willing to sign an extension should Arsenal include a minimum fee release clause, which could see him leave the club should another club offer a pre-agreed amount. This is regular practice in Spain, but is rarely featured in Premier League players contracts.
The German international is claimed to be have been persuaded to stay now (not that he had ever said otherwise) folllowing the arrival of international team-mate Mustafi. He is claimed to want a new wage of £200K a week in order to sign his future to the club however. Our club will no doubt play hardball as they aim to maintain their stringent wage budget, but that sort of wage should not pose too much of a problem for Arsenal.
Both players have less than two years remaining on their current deals, and will no doubt have a strong position when it comes to the talks, and as much as we don’t want to lose either at all, we especially don’t want to lose either for free!
Should we allow Alexis his release clause in order to tie him down to a new deal? Would a £60 Million clause be fair for us and Alexis? Does Ozil deserve a hike up to £200K per week?
Pat J