Arsenal ready to lose Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere for nothing, claims Arsene Wenger

Targets | Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain are of interest to Man City and Chelsea
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James Olley17 August 2017

Arsene Wenger on Wednesday insisted Arsenal are prepared to make a “financial sacrifice” and risk losing Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere for nothing next summer.

The trio are among several players strongly linked with a move away from the Gunners before the transfer window closes on August 31 but Wenger insists all three are in his plans despite entering the final year of their existing contracts.

That resolve is set to be tested with Manchester City expected to make an offer in excess of £50million for Sanchez while Chelsea are increasingly confident of pulling off a £35m deal for Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Wilshere is uncertain over his future as he seeks regular first-team football amid interest from a host of clubs including Aston Villa.

However, unlike Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool or Virgil van Dijk at Southampton, no Arsenal player is yet to take the combative step of handing in a transfer request and Wenger is confident the club is in position to run down contracts to the point big-name players could leave on free transfers.

“Look, let’s not be wrong, it’s not an ideal situation on the financial side and it demands some sacrifice but first of all it doesn’t mean the players who are in the final year of their contract will not extend their contract,” he told Standard Sport. “You have still that possibility and we work on that as well.

“I have regular conversations with the players where I tell them where I stand and they know what I want and where I stand on that front.

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“I’m very happy [transfer requests haven’t been handed in], because I believe it’s important that you have a serene atmosphere inside, and clarity as well about your commitment. That’s why we spoke about the transfer window. It’s important that the players are not half in and half out, but completely in.

“Will Oxlade-Chamberlain be here at the end of the season? Yes. Personally, because I rate him highly and he’s one of the players who is on his way up. In the last year, he has made huge progress and personally I want him to stay here for a long time. I’m convinced he will be the English players that everybody will look at in the next two years.

“At the moment, Jack’s future is here. I think I plan for him to be here for the whole season, after we will see at the end of the season.”

However, Wenger admitted that negotiations with Sanchez over extending his current deal have stalled. Arsenal have offered the 28-year-old a new deal worth £300,000-a-week including image rights but Sanchez has so far proved unwilling to sign an extension.

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“We have not progressed on that front,” said Wenger. “At the moment he is a player who goes into the final year of his contract and prepares for the season. We have not made any progress on the other front.

“Am I really willing to let Sanchez leave for free next summer? That is a consequence of what I say, yes, unfortunately. But we have to make a choice between efficiency on the field and financial interest and most of the time if you can find a good compromise, it’s better. But in this case, I think I prioritise the fact that he will be useful on the sporting side.”

Sanchez is unlikely to be fit for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Stoke as he continues to recover from an abdominal problem but Per Mertesacker is set to return following a facial injury.

Shkodran Mustafi will travel after regaining match fitness after an extended break to recuperate from the Confederations Cup while Francis Coquelin (ankle) is also included but Laurent Koscielny is still suspended.