Arsene Wenger casts doubt over Alexis Sanchez signing new mega-money Arsenal deal
ARSENE WENGER reveals Arsenal's intentions of trying to tie down Alexis Sanchez but admits he is not confident they will agree terms on a new contract.
The Gunners are in the process of fending off interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, with his contract expiring next summer.
Speaking to SFR Sport 1, Wenger said he has "the firm intention to keep the Chilean" but is "not optimistic about an extension".
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It was reported the Gunners offered the winger a new contract worth £300,000-a-week.
Wenger has confirmed Sanchez will not feature in his side’s Premier League opener after picking up an abdominal strain.
The 28-year-old watched on from the stands at Wembley as Arsenal lifted the Community Shield after beating Chelsea on penalties.
Wenger gave the star an extended period of time off after Chile’s Confederations Cup campaign over the summer.
Speaking on Sanchez's current fitness, Wenger said: “Sanchez had an abdominal strain he caught on Sunday morning before he came to Wembley.
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“He had a scan two days ago and is out for a while. One or two weeks.
“Always for us Alexis Sanchez is a loss.”
Arsenal kick off their league campaign this evening at home Leicester as they will look to put the pressure on their rivals with a win ahead of the weekend.
Alexis Sanchez - Nicknamed 'The Boy Wonder' he is now the main man at Arsenal
- Born in Tocopilla, Chile on December 19, 1988
- Began his career in Chilean club Cobreloa, breaking into the first-team after one year in 2005
- Signed for Italian club Udinese in 2006 and spent one season on loan at Colo-Colo in his home country, then another at Argentine club River Plate
- Signed for Barcleona in 2011 in a £23million deal
- Won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, Supercopa, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup during three seasons at the Nou Camp
- Signed for Arsenal in 2014 for £35million
- Won the FA Cup in 2015 and 2017, as well as the Community Shield in 2014 and 2015
- Claimed the Cop America Cup in 2015 and 2016
- Named PFA Fans' Player of the Year in 2015
- His nickname is El Niño Maravilla, which translates as 'The Boy Wonder'
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