Arsene Wenger has finally divulged and laid rest to the uneasiness of delay in contract extension of star players at Arsenal. Rest assured, as the contract extensions will be apparently signed, however, the manager has revealed that it will only become reality if Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil rise beyond their financial needs. With his own contract expiring at the end of this season, Wenger seems to have clarity of expectations from his star players which would decide whether they would get a bonus agreement or not.
This season Arsenal appear to be at their best having matched Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, trailing only by a goal’s difference. But it’s still early in the season and Wenger seems to be making sure that an even better performance would surely win them an elusive title. In an attempt to improve his side, he has disclosed that an agreement to increase the wages will be reached once the players meet the clubs needs.
Read more: EPL 2016/17: Sanchez and Ozil asked to lower their wage demands by Arsenal cult hero Perry Groves
Wenger said, “I think these kind of players can raise a little bit above the financial aspect of the game because they are not poor and they have to look really on the football side. Do the club meet their needs on the football front and if 'yes' then a Premier League club can find an agreement with the players. We still keep the values we have and we pay what we can afford.”
Six years ago, Arsene Wenger played a similar game risking the club’s future as Arsenal seemed poised enough to win the title. In order to bring out the best out of players such as Robin Van Persie, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, he delayed extending their contracts but eventually it didn’t turn out too well. Fabregas left for Barcelona, Van Persie switched to Manchester United and Samir Nasri to the other side of Manchester, at City.
Seeming stubborn yet aware of his approach towards contract extensions, Wenger explained, “We have a scale of wages but it has become a bit more individual. It has always been difficult to keep the good players. They are wanted by other clubs and it’s normal they try to get the maximum out of their negotiations because they have 10 years to play at the top level if all goes well. My whole life I fight to get the players paid as much as I can.
“Basically when they sign a contract for four years, they sign for two because of the simple fact that just to keep the value of the player you have to extend the contract.”
It is believed that besides Sanchez and Ozil, Hector Bellerin's market value has also risen and a contract extension would also be offered to him.
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