Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will be staying beyond the summer.
The Gunners have had huge question marks over the futures of Wenger, Ozil, and Alexis this term, but with the former having agreed to extend his stay until 2019, the latter now look set to stay put also.
The two superstars are into the last 12 months of their deal, and have been strongly linked with moves to a number of big European sides, but the Frenchman now insists that neither will be quitting the club.
‘This summer, first of all, they will stay at the club and hopefully we can extend their contract,’ the 67-year-old said.
‘You know, you cannot weaken the club and weaken the team. We want to strengthen the team…unless you find a player of the same calibre and they absolutely want to leave. I believe that at the moment we are not on that front. We are just focused on keeping the team together and see how to strengthen the team.
‘When you sign a contract somewhere you commit to give your best until the last day of the contract. I would say why should they not give their best. The interest of any footballer is to play football and well. Even more so when you’re at the end of your contract, your interest is always to give your best and if you’re a winner, to win the game.’
As much as our manager is ruling out the exits of the duo, when he says ‘I believe’, it tells me that the players are yet to agree to stay with the club…
Will Alexis return from the summer with the intent to leave the club? Could a big-name signing convince him to stay put?
Pat J