Sanchez and Ozil demand £250,000-a-week contracts

Arsenal have long tried to tie Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil down to long-term contracts. Although it was expected that both would sign over the summer, The Times now reports that both players are demanding contracts worth £250,000-a-week. This new figure is £70,000 more than what was discussed in initial negotiations earlier this year. If the reports are true, then Arsenal will face extra costs of £36 million, which The Times reports as being partly down to the Brexit vote.

Both Arsenal’s star players have deals that run out in 2018, with the club wanting to offer new contracts until 2020 but it is becoming ever more difficult. Due to the inflation in wages across the League and with the new TV money coming into effect, both players are demanding a hefty pay rise – a pay rise which could take them close to Wayne Rooney’s £260,000-a-week deal.

Sanchez and Ozil are Arsenal’s current top two earners, with wages at £140,000 (Sanchez) and £150,000-a-week (Ozil) respectively. With both players coming to the end of their deals it is imperative that Arsenal sign them down before they enter their final year, furthermore, Arsenal will also be in talks with Alex Iwobi, Hector Bellerin, and Santi Cazorla over new contracts.

While Ozil seems more likely to sign a new deal, Sanchez has had some problems with Wenger in the past but seems to have been rejuvenated after being given the starting striker role. Let’s hope Arsenal can tie both of them down to long-term deals.