- Ozil and Sanchez could leave Arsenal on free transfers next summer
- Gunners could opt to sell in January to avoid losing them for nothing
- Keown doesn’t think that’s even on Wenger’s mind
- READ MORE: Big boost for Arsenal ace, Wenger drops hint with huge vote of confidence
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes that Arsene Wenger has no intention whatsoever of cashing in on Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
The pair will see their current contracts with Arsenal expire at the end of the season, at which point they will become free agents and can move on.
Unless the Gunners can convince them to sign new deals before then, they will risk losing them for nothing, which will surely make it even worse for supporters who want the club to keep their best players, let alone lose them for free and run the risk of seeing them join rivals.
However, Keown believes that that is the path the north London giants are going down, as they will hope the star duo can help guide them back into the Champions League for next season, but January exits will not be on the cards as he doubts Wenger will want to sell them.
“I believe that they believe in the football club,” Keown told BT Sport, as reported by The Express. “They have to do well between now and the end of the season and then go with everyone’s blessing.
“Wenger wants them at the club. He wants the best players, that’s all he’s ever interested in – he is not interested in getting any money in for them.”
That will likely spark debate in itself, as although Arsenal have to focus on this season and remain hopeful that the pair will commit their futures before it’s too late, it’s a massive risk to play out.
Selling them in January if they have no intention of renewing could at least give them the chance to raise funds and sign replacements, but Keown is adamant that won’t be the case in the coming months.