Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has admitted that Mesut Ozil's contract demands are a little steep. The Frenchman did confirm though that the German international wants to stay at Arsenal despite the lengthy contract negotiations.
Ozil's contract runs out on 31st June 2018 and come the end of the current season will enter the final year of his contract – which could force an array of top European clubs and even his former side Real Madrid to put in a bid for his services given Arsenal can't demand too much.
But Wenger allayed fears of the German wanting out after Arsenal's 3-2 win over Swansea. “I don’t think he needs convincing, he wants to stay here,” said Wenger, before a subtly dropping what people have interpreted as high contract demands, “If you have a good bank, call me.”
“We keep that discreet,” he said when asked about where the negotiations were at the moment. "...at due time we will come out with that," he added.
The Frenchman was also adamant that he wanted Ozil to stay at the club. “Tonight it’s not my main worry,” Wenger said. “We want to keep our best players, of course. The more I say that, the more he is in a stronger position.”
He also said the German wasn't banking only on money to sign on with the club. “It’s not just money,” Wenger said.
“Arsenal can win titles of course. But that’s what we have to show. We are in a league where Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea everybody fights and you cannot guarantee that to anybody," he concluded.
Ozil is currently on a deal rumoured to be valued at around £140,000-a-week and is reportedly asking the club to significantly improve it to over £ 200.000-a-week. That would make Ozil the highest ever earner in the club's history – reportedly, on par with Thierry Henry's last season with the club.
Arsenal are also said to be in the process of negotiating with Alexis Sanchez, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, and Santi Cazorla over new contracts. The Chilean forward has been sensational for the Gunners and has attracted the attention of various other top European clubs prompting Arsenal to nail him down to a newer and more valuable contract.
Wenger has always said he wants Wilshere to retire at the club and is set to offer the Englishman a new contract before the end of the season. It's the same case for Aaron Ramsey.
Santi Cazorla will be a free agent come the end of the current season and the situation with him is still unclear.
More Football news, transfer rumours, analysis, and features at Sportskeeda.com
