Arsene Wenger insists financial results of losing Alexis Sanchez are 'less important' than Arsenal's success

James Benge17 August 2017

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted that the financial implications of allowing Alexis Sanchez’s contract to expire are “less important” than what it means for his team.

Three of Wenger’s most important first-team players – Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – face uncertain futures having entered the final 12 months of their contract. The likes of Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs also have deals that expire in June.

Sanchez has been the subject of intense interest from European and Premier League sides, most notably Manchester City and Paris St Germain, and has so far shown no indication he will sign the £300,000-a-week contract Arsenal have offered him.

The 28-year-old is currently sidelined with an abdominal injury but if Arsenal want to end their exile from the Champions League last season’s top scorer will likely play a key role.

As such Wenger reaffirmed his pledge that Sanchez would not be sold before the transfer window closes in a fortnight. For the Arsenal manager on-field success is more important than the £50million in transfer fees they are missing out on.

“I am a football manager, I want Sanchez to stay, and that's it,” Wenger said. “After that, all the financial implications, for me, is less important. But at the end of the day you have to afford it as well, you must afford it.

“I want Sanchez to stay, I want Sanchez to extend his contract. But as well you have to be capable to afford to pay him.

In Pictures | Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal

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“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. You have still that possibility and we work on that as well.

“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.”

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Wenger has said Sanchez would not be sold on over a dozen occasions this summer and has been similarly insistent over Ozil and Oxlade-Chamberlain, for whom Chelsea are prepared to offer £35million.

However the 67-year-old has in the past made similar claims about Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie before sanctioning their sales.

Asked whether he was completely convinced the trio would stay at Arsenal Wenger said: “100 per cent never exists, because never in our job never exists.

“I think all the three will stay. I will fight for them to stay.”