Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez’s contract standoff at Arsenal has got Premier League fans and pundits discussing the issue that currently faces Arsene Wenger.
A club’s key players are always going to demand the best deals possible, but the Frenchman is facing a problem that he hasn’t had to deal with often during his 20 years in north London.
Both of the Gunners star men have just 18 months remaining on their current deals and don’t look close to finalising fresh terms any time soon, as the contract saga goes on.
Sanchez has lucrative options in China, with it being reported he could earn up to £400,000-a-week in the Chinese Super League, and it appears the Chile international is using that in his favour to secure a big pay rise at the Emirates.
Meanwhile, Ozil is also supposedly looking for a deal around the £300,000-a-week mark, which would make him the highest-paid player in the Premier League.
But former Manchester United midfielder Gary Neville has told Arsenal not to worry about losing either, or both, of their star men – even though it would appear to give the wrong impression to the club’s rivals.
“You talk about Sanchez and Ozil as though Arsenal Football Club is going to end if they leave,” said Neville. “Arsenal have had far better players than them over the last 20 years.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about them holding the club to ransom.
“Make them an offer and if they don’t stay let them go. Arsenal Football Club will still be here in a 100 years’ time.”
Meanwhile, former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Graeme Souness believes the biggest negative impact of either Sanchez or Ozil leaving would be in their ability to attract other big names to the club.
Arsenal do not possess a squad packed with top class players throughout, like Manchester City and Chelsea, for example, and Souness believes that could prove problematic when trying to lure Champions League-quality players to the club.
“The dilemma is if you pay them the money they’re after, they’ll all be knocking on the manager’s door saying they want a big increase,” said Souness.
“For Arsenal, as a big football club – and they genuinely are one of the big clubs in world football – they have to make a statement. If they allow them two to go, how are they going to attract big players in the future?”
Neville also criticised the “scandalous” sums being offered to the likes of Sanchez and backed Wenger to stick by the strict budget he has set during his lengthy spell at the club.
“Wenger has always been very diligent and actually he’s done a brilliant job over the last 15-20 years in terms of managing the budgets,” Neville added. “The issue around £400,000 or £300,000-per-week, you’ve got to allow them to manage the club around that and Wenger has always been pretty good around making those calls.”
The contract negotiations are far from ideal for Wenger, whose sole focus will be to ensure his side get back to winning ways during the busy festive period, following back-to-back defeats against Everton and Manchester City this week.
It’s inevitable that talks will continue into the new year and, as time passes, fans will undoubtedly be growing more concerned and frustrated.