Arsene Wenger has claimed Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will stay at Arsenal until the end of the season “unless something unbelievable happens”.
The Gunners boss last month admitted there was a possibility the pair could leave in January as they continue to refuse all offers to extend their respective deals, which both expire next summer.
Manchester City are expected to revive their interest in Sanchez after failing with a £60million bid on August 31 due to Arsenal’s failure to sign Monaco winger Thomas Lemar as a replacement.
Paris Saint Germain are also keen on Sanchez while Mesut Ozil’s situation is being closely monitored by Manchester United and Barcelona. Both players are free to negotiate directly with overseas clubs from January 1.
However, Wenger was more resolute in his stance this morning ahead of Wednesday's Premier League home game against Huddersfield.
Asked by Standard Sport whether Wenger is now ruling out Ozil and Alexis departing mid-season, Wenger replied: “Yes I rule it out. I do not think about that every day. At the moment, as long as they are here, they have to give their best for the team and for the club. In my head, they stay until the end of the season and that’s a decision that was taken at the start of the season. Unless something unbelievable happens, I can’t see why that would change.”
Wenger had also previously suggested the long-running saga would be concluded one way or the other in December and when asked to clarify whether that decision had now been taken ahead of schedule, the 68-year-old said: “We are not in December yet, we are in November. In a press conference, you’re always confronted with many speculations over the psychological state of transfers but for me, they’ll stay until the end of the season.
In Pictures | Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal
“That’s what I decided at the start of the season. They’re into the final year of their contract. Will they stay longer? That’s impossible to answer today because I don’t know. They have a contract until the end of the season.”
Arsenal had maintained all summer that Sanchez would not be sold only to agree a deal in the final hours of the window before turning their attentions to Lemar.
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The pair’s fate is likely to be determined by the offers made in January with valuations having to reflect both their individual talents and the relatively short time left on their contracts.
The Gunners are unlikely to receive offers in excess of £30m for either player and Wenger’s rhetoric today could be interpreted as merely a strong negotiating position, especially as Arsenal risk losing both for nothing next summer.
Ozil is a doubt for Wednesday's game due to an illness which also ruled him out of Sunday’s 1-0 win at Burnley. The 29-year-old was due to resume training this morning and will be assessed ahead of the game.